AIDS/LifeCycle: Thank You from the Finish Line

All smiles for flat road.

We did it: 562 miles, 23.4k' elevation gain (higher than Kilimanjaro, and 80% of Mt. Everest's height of 29k'), a total of $17.3 million raised thanks to you and others like you—all to cross the finish line in LA on Saturday. 

Why so strenuous? This is part of the LifeCycle's original design, 31 years ago—to show that you could have HIV and be strong. To offer an image that countered the common one at the time: of a patient in a hospital gown. 

The LifeCycle is a fundraiser. And it is a public outreach phenomenon. But at its heart, it's a community. One free from stigma and the gaze of others. Its tagline is: You Belong Here. As a queer person privileged with visibility and who has found community in a variety of shapes, I can take belonging for granted. But for many people who are longtime survivors, recently diagnosed, or have lost parents or loved ones to the disease, the LifeCycle is where they can be their full, vibrant, beautiful selves. Surrounded by others who understand. The beauty and power of this took a few days to fully register for this newcomer. 

This was the last full SF to LA LifeCycle ride. Organizers have found that it's too hard for people to get a full week off work to participate, among other factors. They will break it into two long weekends in 2026. I worry whether this will be sufficient for the community and belonging that people crave, and deserve. 

Regardless of the LifeCycle's fate, there is much we can do—every day. We can foster spaces where people can be their full, beautiful selves. Where they can be seen if they want to be, and above all, safe. We can keep fighting for what we believe in, and on behalf of souls lost. And we can hold onto our faith in humanity, which undergirds so much social progress, and can come easily when surrounded by others who care. 

Thank you to all who supported this cause and my ride. We have more mountains to climb. But I know people who see challenges on the road ahead, and keep moving. That's a spirit I hope to hold onto for a lifetime. 

Candlelight Vigil for Riders Lost (photo courtesy of AIDS/LifeCycle

At the finish line with the team I crashed.