|
Media Kit |
Newsroom
Media Advisory, April 9, 2009
NorCal AIDS Challenge to Raise Money and Awareness for HIV/AIDS Services (PDF)
Press Release, April 9, 2009
Norcal AIDS Challenge Braves Economic Woes to Raise Money and Awareness for HIV/AIDS Services (PDF)
Click on thumbnail for larger image
Click here to go to the NorCal AIDS Challenge Flickr Photo Stream
ABOUT: The NorCal AIDS Challenge is a 4-day, 330 mile charity cycling event. It was developed in 2005 to benefit the inland Northern California HIV/AIDS service providers. Although there are similar charity bike rides that exist in the State, none of the funding gets distributed to inland Northern California communities. The NCAC is almost a completely volunteer-produced event that has raised over $450,000 for HIV/AIDS services in the Sacramento region.
In 2010 we are offering a ‘Weekender’ option to the 4-day, 330 miles. The Weekender is for those who would like to ride just two days (Saturday and Sunday). It’s a shorter distance (135 miles) and for most people does not require taking time off work.
Ride beneficiaries include: The Center for AIDS Research Education and Services (CARES), Breaking Barriers Community Services Center and AIDS Housing Alliance/Open Arms Project.
DATE: May 20-23, 2010
LOCATION: Various locations around Northern California. Starts in Folsom, CA and ends at the State Capitol. See the Ride Course/Schedule section below for more detail.
EVENT BACKGROUND: The NorCal AIDS Challenge started in 2005 by a small group of cyclists who all had been a part of the AIDS Life Cycle or California AIDS Ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. While their experience had been wonderful, they were disappointed that the thousands of dollars raised by Sacramentans was not coming back to the community, but instead going to services in Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The idea was to create Sacramento’s own multi-day bike ride/fundraiser to bring funds and HIV/AIDS awareness to the area. The first ride in May of 2005 consisted of 19 riders. Since then, the ride has continued to grow in size each year. In 2009, the ride had about 65 cyclists raising money and awareness for HIV/AIDS. Our goal for 2010 is 100 cyclists.
FOR INTERVIEWS: Interviews with event organizers, local ride participants, volunteer crew and donor recipients can be set up through the NorCal AIDS Challenge media representative: Lesley Miller at 3Fold Communications. She can be reached at (916) 442-1394.
FACTS ABOUT HIV/AIDS:
- The number of new infections continues to increase; e.g. 8.8% more people were infected in 2008 than 2007.
- New AIDS cases in people over 45 years old increased from 20.2% in 1997 to 30.7% in 2007.
- The average cost of medication and treatment for a person living with AIDS is $20,000 annually.
- There has been an overall decline in deaths of people living with HIV/AIDS (meaning our beneficiaries have more people to serve).
- AIDS is still a chronic and fatal disease, which often pushes those living with it into poverty.
RIDE COURSE/SCHEDULE:
Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, May 20, 2010
Time: 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. (Cyclists will depart promptly at 7:00 a.m.)
Location: Beal’s Point, Folsom/Granite Bay
Day 1 (95 miles): Riders start in Folsom and spend half the day exploring the rolling terrain of the foothills near Lincoln, Loomis, and Auburn before finishing the day at Gridley in the heart of the Central Valley.
Day 2 (95 miles): Cyclists choose between two different 90-mile routes. Both options will take cyclists through the historic towns of Oroville and Durham, before ending the day with a pleasant cruise along the banks of the Sacramento River and evening camp in Colusa. However, the more challenging option will also take cyclists up and over Table Mountain, with its steep, 3-mile climb to the summit. Cyclists looking for less of a challenge will be able ride around Table Mt.
Day 3 (85-miles): The ‘weekender’ (2-day) group joins the ride this day. The route will include a mostly-downhill ride along Cache Creek as it empties out into the Sacramento Valley. The group will ride by the Cache Creek Casino Resort before stopping for the night in Woodland.
Day 4 (50 miles): The final and easiest day of the Challenge – a flat 50 miles from Woodland to Winters to Davis and then back to Sacramento, finishing on the West Steps of the Capitol.
Closing Ceremonies and Health Fairon Sunday, May 23, 2010
Time: 11:30 am, riders arrive promptly at Noon
Location: West Steps of the State Capitol
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lesley Miller
Office: (916) 442-1394
Cell: (916) 606-4810
lesley@3foldcomm.com
Allison Yee-Garcia
Office: (916) 442-1394
Cell: (916) 606-7528
Allison@3foldcomm.com |
