West Hollywood resident Christopher Vanek so enjoyed the 545-mile AIDS LifeCycle ride last year from San Francisco to Los Angeles, he couldn’t wait to hop on his bike and repeat the experience.

Approximately 2,400 cyclists on the 545-mile AIDS LifeCycle ride will cross the finish line on June 11 at Fairfax High School. (photo by Georg Lester)

This week, Vanek is pedaling his way toward Los Angeles in the 2016 AIDS Lifecycle, which began June 5 and concludes June 11. Completing the ride will be a homecoming of sorts, as the riders will pedal along Santa Monica Boulevard on Saturday and finish at Fairfax High School. For the first time in more than a decade, the ride will end near West Hollywood. Vanek said he expects it to be a triumphant ride to finish, surrounded by approximately 2,400 other cyclists and hundreds of additional supporters known as “roadies” who endured the arduous trek.

“We are all in this together for a common cause,” said Vanek, who is HIV positive. “I had a bunch of friends who do it and it was something that was on my bucket list. We raise money for AIDS services. I think it is awesome.”

AIDS LifeCycle is an annual fundraiser benefitting the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Riders raised approximately $16.1 million for services this year, just short of the record $16.6 million raised last year, said Gil Diaz, communications manager for the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

The finish line was relocated this year from the Veterans Administration (VA) grounds in West Los Angeles to Fairfax High because of construction at the VA property. Members of the public are invited to welcome riders at a finish line festival. Diaz said the first cyclists are expected to cross the finish line around 10 a.m., and the closing ceremonies will be at 5 p.m.

“They are going to be going north on Doheny and then east on Santa Monica through the heart of West Hollywood, and south on Ogden to Fairfax High,” Diaz added.

This year’s ride marked the 15th anniversary of the AIDS LifeCycle, but the ride dates to 1993, when it was known as the California AIDS Ride. It was previously organized by a private company, but the Los Angeles LGBT Center took over coordinating the event and changed the name to AIDS LifeCycle in 2001. Since its inception, $220 million has been raised.

Diaz said the funding is used for medical services at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic, as well as free HIV testing in West Hollywood and at the center’s headquarters on Schrader Boulevard in Hollywood. Los Angeles LGBT Center CEO Lorri L. Jean said AIDS LifeCycle is crucial in the fight against the disease.

“AIDS LifeCycle raises critical support for the HIV-related care and services at the Los Angeles LGBT Center,” Jean said. “More than just the dollars raised, AIDS LifeCycle provides a visible community of support for those living with HIV and AIDS. Nothing says ‘you are not alone’ like the more than 3,000 cyclists and support volunteers making their way from San Francisco to Los Angeles.”

Jean added that while there have been many breakthroughs in treatment of HIV and AIDS, the battle is far from over.

“AIDS LifeCycle’s goal is to end HIV and AIDS. Education and awareness are critical pieces of that work,” Jean said. “There have been amazing advances in the treatment of HIV, including pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis, but there is still plenty of work to be done. In the seven days it will take us to reach Los Angeles, more than 1,000 people in the U.S. will become infected with HIV. Infection rates are alarmingly high within some of our most vulnerable communities, especial young black and Latino men. People have to know what treatments are out there and how to get help. We still need comprehensive HIV sexual health education and public policies in order to end this epidemic once and for all.”

Jean also echoed Vanek’s sentiment that the ride will be a homecoming this year. The cyclists will be heading along Santa Monica Boulevard during L.A. Pride weekend.

“We’ll arrive in West Hollywood on Saturday, June 11, right in the middle of L.A. Pride, and AIDS LifeCycle cyclists and roadies will be part of the center’s marching contingent during the parade on Sunday,” Jean said. “It is amazing that we are returning to West Hollywood, a city which embraced the ride when it began as California AIDS Ride 23 years ago and was ground zero for so much of our fight against HIV/AIDS. It will give us a real hometown heroes welcome for the end of the ride.”

Vanek said he is proud his parents and friends will be rooting him on at the closing ceremonies. He said the camaraderie among AIDS LifeCycle participants is one of the best parts of the experience.

“West Hollywood can be a little clique-ish, if you will, but you don’t feel that on this ride,” Vanek added. “Everyone loves each other, regardless of age, orientation and status.”