AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) is currently underway and in keeping with tradition, on day 3 of the ride, cyclists stop in the small California town of Bradley. Food for the riders is always provided during the ride, but on this day, participants willingly pay for their lunch. Bradley has been fundraising via ALC for over a decade and each year, raising more and more. The money from the few hours each year goes to support all extracurricular activities for the school in Bradley, which is Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Students and parents sell hamburgers, drinks and baked goods to raise money. In addition, handmade buttons are given away for donations. This year, students decided to one up their previous years by adding a $100 hamburger experience. The cost includes a private "VIP" tented seating area catered by the students.
Needless to say, this is the biggest fundraiser for the school system each year. Last year, the school brought in $15,500 after expenses. Residents of Bradley are beyond welcoming to the ALC cyclists, cheering them on as they ride in. It's a beautiful learning experience for the kids of the small town to experience the diversity that rolls on through their tiny town for a few hours, once a year. Spending money and giving back to Bradley has been an ongoing theme for cyclists each year.
AIDS/LifeCycle Gives Back During Ride
AIDS/LifeCycle is a fully supported, seven-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It's a life-changing ride-not a race- through some of California's most beautiful countryside. AIDS/LifeCycle is co-produced by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and is designed to advance their shared mission to reduce new HIV infections and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. This year, over 3,000 participants made up of cyclists and volunteer "rodies" raised just over $15 million dollars. For more information on AIDS/LifeCycle, visit www.aidslifecycle.org