It’s back! The finish line for AIDS/LifeCycle—the world’s largest annual HIV/AIDS fundraiser—will be returning to Greater WeHo with the finishing line at Fairfax High School on June 8, during the same weekend as LA Pride. After years of heading toward Fairfax High School, AIDS/LifeCycle deviated to Los Angeles City Hall last year.
With proceeds benefiting San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV/AIDS-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center, participants depart from San Francisco on Sunday, June 2. They are expected to arrive at Fairfax High School on June & between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Cyclists will cross the finish line as early as 11 a.m. After the final cyclists and volunteers (aka “roadies”) cross the finish line, a closing ceremony with a video montage highlighting the ride’s best moments will begin.
“Bringing back the finish line to West Hollywood was an easy decision for us to make because the ride and the city have a deep history that dates back more than 30 years,” said AIDS/LifeCycle Ride Director Tracy Evans.
“West Hollywood, disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS, embraced the ride when it began as California AIDS Ride. We’re ‘going back to our roots’ and standing in unison with the city to make the bold statement: We will continue to ride until the epidemic is over. And with L.A. Pride taking place during the same weekend, our riders and roadies have more reasons to celebrate their heroic achievements with their families and friends!”
Families, friends, and other spectators are encouraged to cheer on the cyclists and roadies as they reach the finish line, completing their 7-day, 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Participants will ride east on Santa Monica Boulevard, one of the major thoroughfares in West Hollywood, and then head south on North Ogden Drive to reach Fairfax High School’s entrance. The spectators’ grandstand will be located at the southwest corner of Melrose Avenue and North Ogden Drive.
Volunteers are needed to assist with the festival. Beverages and snacks will be provided. Volunteers can register online at aidslifecycle.org/volunteer.
They are expected to arrive when? What day in Los Angeles/West Hollywood or whatever you want to call it?
The finish line (Fairfax High School) is not in West Hollywood, it’s in the City of Los Angeles. And what’s with this “Greater WeHo”? How far from our actual City borders does this extend to? The designation should not be used. Something is within our defined City borders or it’s not.
Greater WeHo refers to surrounding areas that embrace the ethos of West Hollywood. Many businesses on Melrose Avenue that technically are outside our city’s erratic city limits describe themselves as being in West Hollywood. The owner of one business on Beverly Boulevard describes her location as “Lower WeHo.”