November 17/09 21:28 pm - Cyclists 29 Miles to Commemorate 29 Years of AIDS Pandemic

Posted by Editoress on 11/17/09
 

Rides across US and around the world

On Sunday, November 29, 2009, cyclists around the world will participate in World AIDS Day by cycling 29 miles to commemorate 29 years of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Some of the cities participating in this event are: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Richmond, VA, Austin TX, London and Sydney.  Additional cities are signing up daily and organizers would like other cities that have never participated to get on board.

“Worldwide, HIV and AIDS are very much with us, and this ride is to remember those we have lost,” says San Francisco organizer and Positive Pedalers board member Beau Thomson, “but it is also to raise awareness to keep others from being infected by a totally preventable disease.”

The World AIDS Day ride organizes groups around the world to ride to raise awareness of the perception and stigma associated with HIV.

Over the last few years, the largest rides have taken place in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, and this year should be no exception.  Through Twitter and a Facebook group, riders are pledging support and planning new rides.

“The support is heartening,” says Thomson, “but I really hope more cities will join us. I ask cyclists throughout the country and throughout the world to rally their riders to join us for this very important symbol for this continuing epidemic.”

Riders who are on Facebook can search “World AIDS Day Rides” to join the group and can follow Twitter for information or go to the Positive Pedalers website

Rides will begin at 8 am at the cyclists’ local time and riders are encouraged to wear red.
 
About World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 33.2 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2006 of which, more than half a million (570,000) were children.