Action Cycling/AV200 fundraising crests $2 million

The 13th ride of the Action Cycling Atlanta AIDS Vaccine 200 raised more than $235,000, with donations continuing through June 30.

More than 100 bicyclists completed this weekend’s 13th annual AIDS Vaccine 200 fundraising ride, raising more than $235,000 to date. The all-volunteer Action Cycling Atlanta (www.ActionCycling.org) says it will continue to raise funds through June 30, disbursing to beneficiaries at a ceremony to be held in late summer 2015.

The 200-mile ride benefits AIDS vaccine research at the Emory Vaccine Center, including funding four research fellows, and Positive Impact and Jerusalem House.

“We’re especially proud that, even though contributions are still coming in for this year’s ride, we’ve already crested the $2 million mark in terms of cumulative fundraising,” says Leon Morales, Action Cycling Board President, who notes that 100 percent of rider and volunteer funds raised go to beneficiaries.

As riders completed this year’s event, rain began to fall quite literally as they cycled onto the Emory campus. Closing celebrations included the riderless bike, symbolizing those lost to HIV/AIDS. New this year, the four Emory Vaccine Center fellows took over the riderless bike from ride participants, placing a volunteer’s five-year-old daughter astride, symbolizing hope.

The second Michael T. Murphy Spirit of AIDS Vaccine 200 Award was presented to Debra Snell, who had just completed her 12th AV200. It was presented by former board member and long term rider John Beal, last year’s recipient, and symbolizes “gratitude for dedication and service to finding a vaccine.” Murphy, for whom the award is named, was active with the organization and passed away two years ago.

The two-day, 200-mile bicycle event travels from Emory University to Eatonton, Ga. in the Oconee National Forest and back to Emory. Participants include individual riders and relay teams, with support from a volunteer crew. In addition to the central 200-mile event, Action Cycling added two one-day rides, as well as a half-day experience: 35-, 62- or 100-mile rides. Donations can be made to individual riders or volunteers through June 30 at www.AV200.org.

“Building public awareness for HIV/AIDS vaccine research is challenging,” Morales says, “but the enthusiasm of our riders, volunteers, sponsors and donors, and supporters is phenomenal. It’s hard for me to describe the range of great feelings over the weekend, from the elation of seeing the riders heading out on or returning from their journey, to the camaraderie of our ‘overnight’ at the halfway point and the somber moments, like the riderless bike, when we all remember why we are there…what we are fighting for.”

Morales says dates for the 2016 AV200 – the group’s 14th ride – will be announced after the Action Cycling board completes strategic planning in June.

Action Cycling Atlanta was formed in 2003 by a group of cyclists who had participated in other charity cycling events benefitting AIDS researchers and patients. Dismayed that more of the money raised by such rides did not reach beneficiaries, they decided to create their own nonprofit. The unrestricted funds provided to the Emory Vaccine Center by ACA fill funding gaps that cannot be met through grant dollars alone.

The Emory Vaccine Center is one of the largest academic vaccine centers in the world and is renowned for its expertise in cellular immunity and immune memory.