AIDS/Lifecycle is the official cycling event of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. The event is about raising money to help the beneficiaries continue to provide the critical services and education needed to meet the growing needs of the community and to increases awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS among participants, their donors and the general public. In California alone there are more than 55,000 people living with AIDS, and another 125,000 living with HIV, and many unaware of their infection. This ride is used to raise money for education and medical support.

AIDS/LifeCycle is the only AIDS fundraising bicycle event in California organized by the nonprofit agencies that will benefit from the money raised by its participants. Their sole concern is providing critical services to people living with HIV and AIDS. This is a 7-day/545 mile cycling event from San Francisco to Los Angeles, and 2007 marks the 6th anniversary for the event.

Action Cycling 200 is a challenging 2 day 200 mile fundraising bicycle ride from Atlanta to Athens and back. Action Cycling 200 is the premiere annual fundraising event promoted by Action Cycling Atlanta. The primary purpose of the event is to build public awareness of HIV/AIDS, to raise money to support HIV/AIDS vaccine research, and to provide services for people living with HIV/AIDS. The 2007 beneficiaries will be the Emory Vaccine Center and AIDS Athens.

The AC200 is produced by volunteers, and the organizing committee is committed to securing corporate sponsors and individual donors to underwrite as many of the event expenses as possible allowing for the greatest percentage of your fundraising efforts to go to the beneficiaries.

Ride for AIDS Chicago is a two-day, 170-mile, bicycling event designed to raise needed money for Test Positive Aware Network and Better Existence with HIV. The ride is different from other bicycle fundraising events seen in the past because it is a grass roots adventure with a commitment to deliver 100% of donations to the beneficiaries. The bicycle fund raising event will take riders from Chicago's Hollywood Beach to Lake Geneva, WI, and back.

Participants of Ride For AIDS Chicago can expect a weekend of friendship and empowerment as they leave Hollywood Beach on Saturday morning and share the experience of riding to Williams Bay, WI. Riders will rest overnight at the Wesley Woods Retreat Center on Lake Geneva, complete with cabins, showers and meals. On Sunday, riders will return to Chicago and celebrate their victory. Riders will experience the beauty of winding country roads of southeast Wisconsin along shaded bicycle paths secluded from traffic and noise of the cities.

The Empire State Aids Ride is a 7-day 600-mile ride, which crosses the state of New York to raise funds for several beneficiaries including Doctors Without Borders USA, Health GAP, AIDS Rochester, and African Services Committee. This year, the riders will travel from Niagara Falls, NY to Robert Wagner Park in lower Manhattan. The ride is limited to the first 100 riders who register, but promises to be a fun filled event definitely worthy of anyone who will accept the challenge. The closing ceremony for the event will overlook the Statue of Liberty.

The Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS is a 2-day, 175-mile bike-ride between Fort Worth and Dallas Texas that raises money for AIDS Outreach Center of Greater Tarrant County and two other local AIDS Service Organizations. The ride wants to increase awareness and educate the public about HIV and AIDS. This year ride organizers have included a one-day ride in the hopes of attracting new riders, and to get as many people involved as possible.

Smart Ride, the southern most AIDS/HIV event, is an Annual 2 day bike ride from Miami to Key West. This year the ride will be held March 30th and 31st. 100% of the profits of this event go to six Florida State nonprofit AIDS Service Organizations. Riders raise a minimum of $1200.00 in pledges, and there is a $75.00 registration fee. Agencies will receive an equal share of the first 50% of the funds raised by The Smart Ride Riders, the remaining 50% of the riders funds will be distributed in accordance with the individual riders written instructions.

ACT 5 is the fifth annual, Wisconsin AIDS bike ride, which seeks to raise funds and awareness for the AIDS Network. The goal is to provide a ride that is a substantial challenge for all levels of riders, but is at the same time fun and safe. Hopefully participants will educate the community, raise awareness, and teach tolerance about HIV/AIDS, and raise the highest possible return to AIDS Network. ACT 5 covers four days and 300 miles on the ride.

Since 1985, the AIDS Network has provided critical AIDS care and prevention services to south central Wisconsin. They have sustained in their efforts by the resources, expertise and passion of hundreds of volunteers and donors. The previous ACT Rides have raised over $1,000,000 to benefit AIDS Network .

So no matter what part of the country you are in, or what time of the year, there is no excuse for not getting involved with a local bike ride. So grab a friend and a bike and register for one of these great charity events that provide support for HIV/AIDS.

Until next time!