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You are at:Home»Community»We’ve Got Team Spirit! First-Ever TogetheRide Raised Millions of Dollars and Logged 800,000+ Miles

We’ve Got Team Spirit! First-Ever TogetheRide Raised Millions of Dollars and Logged 800,000+ Miles

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By on July 1, 2021 Community, Health

After its launch more than eight months ago, TogetheRide wrapped up this week and raised $2,592,546 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV and AIDS-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

The 1,970 global participants — some as far away as London and New York — raised funds by logging miles at their own pace, such as hitting the roads on their bicycles or pedaling at home on an indoor bike. Participants’ ages ranged from 2 to 85 years old.

“We set out to do something audacious this year and could not have achieved all that we did without every single one of you,” Ride Director Tracy Evans told participants during a “season finale” online broadcast on Wednesday. “I couldn’t be more proud of what we have been able to accomplish together.”

Collectively, participants logged an impressive 801,271 miles.

“You’ve been busy logging miles, raising money, and hopefully having a little bit of fun along the way,” Evans remarked. “As we make our way to the other side of COVID, we have so much to be grateful for. For me, it is this community and the collective effort we have put into raising money and supporting these two incredible agencies.”

The inaugural charity was conceived following the cancellation of the traditional 545-mile, seven-day AIDS/LifeCycle for the second consecutive year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our TogetheRide community went above and beyond,” Center CEO Lorri L. Jean said during the virtual broadcast. “We know this has been a helluva 16 months having to cancel the AIDS/LifeCycle and come up with something else. A lot of us lost a lot of sleep over it. Yet, the clients who come to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center continued to come and, in some instances, in even greater numbers. They were counting on us. We were able to continue to serve them because we could count on you.”

The top 100 fundraisers were called out by name during the broadcast, and several awards were presented to individuals and teams in various categories. The top individual fundraiser was R. Scott Creighton from New Hope, Pennsylvania, who raised $50,850. It brought his overall AIDS/LifeCycle total from past years to more than $290,000. Creighton led #TeamBikePod to raise an additional $38,650.

Longtime AIDS/LifeCycle fundraiser Otis Morgan received the TogetheRide Legend Award for securing 192 donations, the highest number of donations. He raised $31,263 and served as captain of Team Totally Awesome while simultaneously working as a nurse at San Francisco General Hospital throughout the pandemic.

The top Southern California fundraiser was Bill Shopoff who raised $47,879, bringing his lifetime AIDS/LifeCycle total to $564,640 over 19 years. He edged fellow Southern California participant Frankie Grande who raised $47,525.

While many of the TogetheRide participants had taken part in past AIDS/LifeCycle events, more than 800 were first-timers including Ana Garcia who raised nearly $13,000 and received the “Rockstar Rookie Award.”

The day after TogetheRide’s closing, the Center and the Foundation announced that the in-person AIDS/LifeCycle ride will return June 5-11 in 2022. Registration for next year’s ride begins on August 18 at aidslifecycle.org

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This Year’s AIDS/LifeCycle Participants on Why They Ride

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Day One of #TransPrideLA officially kicks off with Day One of #TransPrideLA officially kicks off with the #TransTownHall, a forum with many of your faves—like @xosonique, @msisisking, @sharsaysso, @cecetelfer, @ladragnuns, and so many more. Join us on June 16th at 5PM right on our Hollywood campus to celebrate our community and hear more about the fight ahead. Admission is FREE, so RSVP now at lalgbcenter.org/transpride23 (or hit that #linkinbio). 

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The Trans Town Hall is just Day One of our annual TPLA celebration, which continues on Saturday, June 17th with a festival, workshops, resource fair, vendors, and so much more. Come for the live entertainment and free goodies—stay for the community. RSVP today at the link in bio!

Special thanks to our partner, @weareangelcity. 

#ProtectTransKids #TransVisibility #NonBinary #TransIsBeautiful #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransPrideLA #PrideMonth #AngelFC
#TransPrideLA is back, baby—but this year, we’ #TransPrideLA is back, baby—but this year, we’re doing things a little different. We’re kicking off TPLA weekend with the #TransTownHall—a stage program curated and hosted by @raquel_willis that celebrates and elevates trans voices at this crucial time in our movement.

On June 16th in Hollywood, join folks like @peppermint247, @thechrismosier, Montana state representative @zoandbehold, and more for an evening you won’t forget. And let’s take a stand against the anti-trans bullshit, loud and proud. RSVP today at the #linkinbio! 

Special thanks to our partner, @weareangelcity.  #ProtectTransKids #TransVisibility #NonBinary #TransIsBeautiful #TransRightsAreHumanRights #TransPrideLA #PrideMonth #AngelFC
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Colin is rocking his titleholder sash all week as a tribute to the way the Leather Community was impacted by HIV/AIDS. “We were hit so hard during the epidemic. That means the people still left are the ones who carry on the tradition. In fact, some people wear leather pieces from those we lost to the crisis. It’s our way of remembering them.”

Stay tuned for additional updates from the ride—and follow our friends at @aidslifecycle for more.
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Mark your calendars for June 16-17 for the return Mark your calendars for June 16-17 for the return of #TransPrideLA, presented by @weareangelcity. This festival has been observed for more than a decade—making it one of the oldest, dedicated celebrations of Transgender Pride in the country. 

The iconic two-day event takes place at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Hollywood campus and features appearances by Montana state @zoandbehold, @raquel_willis, @laith_ashley, and many more! 

RSVP today at link in bio! 

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