FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ride for AIDS Chicago Reaches Record Numbers
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and City Council Members Pass Resolution to Salute 2010 Ride for AIDS Chicago
Details Announced for Opening and Closing Ceremonies, July 10 and July 11
Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN), producer of the Ride for AIDS Chicago (RFAC), has announced that the event has blasted all prior records exceeding all expectations, making it the largest RFAC in its history with more than 250 riders and crew members. To date, riders and crew members have raised almost $200,000, which organizers say should far exceed that amount by July 11. Information about RFAC and about making donations can be found online at www.rideforaids.org.
On June 30, Chicago city council members passed a resolution, lead by Aldermen Ariel E. Reboyras, Thomas Tunney, Ed H. Smith, and Mary Ann Smith, which salutes the RFAC 2010 mission and its success. To view the resolution, click here.
"We're ecstatic that the Chicago community has made this year's Ride for AIDS Chicago an overwhelming success," said Rick Heintz, a rider and RFAC co-chair. "We're thankful to all the riders and their efforts in raising awareness of HIV and raising funds to support TPAN and the Ride's Community Partners."
Traditionally, RFAC had taken place in early June. This year, organizers rescheduled RFAC to July 10 and July 11 to allow more time for training, fundraising, and to give riders an opportunity to bike in warmer, more predictable weather. Jeff Allen, RFAC's coordinator, said, "It's been a win-win for everyone this year."
Opening and closing ceremonies will take place on the east lawn of Northwestern University's Norris University Center in Evanston, rain or shine. Parking is available on the second level of the Lakeside Parking Garage located on Campus Drive at the south end of Northwestern University's campus.
On Saturday, July 10 at 7 a.m., opening ceremonies will begin with performances by the Chicago Spirit Brigade and brief speeches from co-chairs for this year's ride, including Angie Frank, Rick Heintz, Nirmalpal Sachdev, and Shaine Wynsma. Riders and crew members will depart for Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where they will spend the night.
On Sunday, July 11, at 5 p.m., friends, family, and loved ones will gather to welcome riders as they complete their 200-mile journey. Representatives from the Ride's beneficiaries, About Face Theatre, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, BEHIV, Housing Opportunities for Women, South Side Help Center, and Test Positive Aware Network, will be on hand to congratulate the top fundraising individuals and teams.
For more information about Ride for AIDS Chicago, opening and closing ceremonies, please call Rhett Lindsay at (773) 989-9400 ext. 233.
About Ride for AIDS Chicago
Ride for AIDS Chicago is produced by Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN). It takes place on July 10 and 11, raising funds for HIV/AIDS services in the Chicago area. Beneficiaries and community partners for this year's ride are: About Face Theatre, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV), Housing Opportunities for Women, South Side Help Center, TPAN, and Youth Outlook. To find out more about the Ride and its beneficiaries, log on to www.rideforaids.org, or call Jeff Allen at (773) 989-9400 ext. 246, or e-mail j.allen@tpan.com.
Sponsors for RFAC are Boeringer Ingelheim, Cheetah Gyms, Chicago Department of Public Health, Cityscape Bar, Clif Bar, Comcast, EMD Serono, Finer Foods Inc., Holiday Inn Merchandise Mart, Iron Cycles, Kind Healthy Snacks, NBC5 Chicago, Orbitz, PowerAde Zero, Red Bull, Smart Water, T's Bar and Restaurant, ViiV Healthcare, and Wilde C3 Design. Media sponsors include Boi Magazine, Chicagopride.com, GRAB Magazine, Gay Chicago Magazine, MTMChicago.com, Nightspots, Positively Aware magazine, and Windy City Times.
About Chicago Spirit Brigade
Chicago Spirit Brigade is committed to helping keep the doors open at agencies who fight so hard on the frontlines of epidemics like cancer and AIDS, providing excellent services to those in need within our communities. For more information, log on to www.chicagospiritbrigade.org. |
