The San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center announced that 2025 will mark the final year of the AIDS/LifeCycle fundraiser. After more than 30 years of cycling for a cause, this iconic event will come to an end due to the rising costs of production and the challenges of fundraising that have worsened since the pandemic. The event, which takes seven days, has been described as “financially unsustainable” by the two organizations.
AIDS/LifeCycle has been much more than just a cycling event—it has served as a symbol of strength, hope, and unity for those living with HIV and the broader LGBTQ+ community. Tyler TerMeer, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and a person living with HIV, reflected on how the event has been life-changing for him and for so many others over the past 16 years. “We’ve built an incredible community, and we’ve made a significant impact on the HIV epidemic,” said TerMeer. “The work of the Foundation and the Center remains as vital as ever, and we are committed to finding new ways to carry on the Ride’s legacy.”
Despite the end of the AIDS/LifeCycle, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center remain dedicated to ending the HIV epidemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 40 million people worldwide. In the U.S., over 30,000 people are diagnosed with HIV each year, with a disproportionate impact on Black, Latinx, gay men, and transgender individuals.
The AIDS/LifeCycle event will continue in 2025 as planned, with registration already open for 2,500 cyclists and 600 volunteers. This final event aims to raise $17.8 million, which would be a record-breaking amount.
Joe Hollendoner, CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, expressed his gratitude for the AIDS/LifeCycle community, emphasizing the profound difference the funds raised over the years have made in combating HIV. “What was once a death sentence is now a manageable condition, thanks to advancements in treatments and preventative measures like PrEP,” Hollendoner said. “Every mile ridden and every dollar raised has brought us closer to the end of AIDS.”
Though the AIDS/LifeCycle fundraiser will come to an end, its legacy will live on in the countless lives it has touched and the continued fight to end the HIV epidemic.