The sound of about 300 bikes whizzing along Cayuga Lake indicated it was no ordinary day in Ithaca. Beginning early Saturday morning, approximately 300 cyclists participated in the 11th Annual Ride For Life in hopes of raising money to combat AIDS. 

Billed as a ride, not a race, riders had the option of biking 50, 85 or 100 miles. The website of the organizer, Southern Tier AIDS Program, Inc., states that each returning rider commits to raising $500 in the fight against HIV/AIDS. First-year riders and those under 18 must raise $300. Riders could raise the funds through a variety of ways; many riders chose to create a website to solicit funds.

“When you register for the ride, riders had the option of creating a webpage on Firstgiving.com,” said Linda Todd ’10, who participated in the bike ride for the first time. “The webpage can easily be sent to potential donors. I emailed my webpage to my friends and family and they donated the money through the website, which will then go toward STAP.”

So far, STAP has raised at least $225,000. Last year, the program raised $280,000 and the goal for this year was to match the funds raised in 2008’s fundraising drive, according to Kim Conrad, special events coordinator at STAP.

Every year, half of the riders are new recruits and 95 percent of riders hail from Ithaca. Although the website indicated that STAP had hoped to recruit 450 riders, only 300 completed the ride this year. But Conrad says despite this setback, she is not worried about trying to match last year’s funds. The fundraising drive goes through October 15.

Conrad added, “To raise even $225,000 in a bad economy is great.”

The funds will be used locally at the STAP agency to promote AIDS and Hepatitis C awareness, education, prevention and client services. Brandon Elgun, program assistant at STAP, stated that some of these services include providing transportation to and from medical appointments for those with HIV/AIDS, distributing safe sex materials, HIV testing and helping people secure apartments by giving them first month’s rent.

“We do free HIV testing and a lot of students come down [to the center],” Elgun said.

Conrad explained that one of the reasons behind Ride For Life’s success is the community involvement — from the riders to corporate sponsors. This year the ride attracted 150 volunteers from the community, including William Cantine ’10.

“It’s a worthwhile [cause] and you feel a sense of charity. It feels good to be part of something bigger than yourself,” Cantine said.

Of the 300 riders, approximately 80 of them are affiliated with the University as faculty, staff or student.

Both Conrad and Todd were quick to point out that the ride is an event that can be completed by people of varying abilities. Children as young as 10 years old participate in the ride, as well as adults who are 65.

Part of the reason people from all different walks of life and abilities are able to participate in the ride is that STAP provides various support mechanisms for would-be bikers ahead of the ride, including organizing practice bike runs.

For instance, a person whose sight is impaired was able to participate in the ride this year with the assistance of a tandem rider.

“The ride was really inspiring to see hundreds of people coming together for a common cause and everyone on my team specifically achieved their goals of finishing the race. There are people of all ages and all walks of life working toward one common goal of raising money for STAP, which goes toward helping people infected with HIV and AIDS,” said first-time participant Todd.

Bikers participated in the ride for a host of reasons, but many said they hoped to physically challenge themselves while giving back to the community. For Vicki Taylor of the Collegetown Bagels Team, Saturday’s bike ride was about supporting STAP, but it was also a personal challenge.

“Before [Saturday] I haven’t rode more than 30 miles, but today I completed 85. It was a wonderful, personal experience. There was great weather, the court marshals were in high spirits and all the fellow riders were excited to be out there,” Taylor said.

Prof. Drew Noden, embryology and animal development, also participated in the Ride along with about 25 others from the Veterinary School. Their team consisted of both faculty and students and they managed to raise about $11,000 to $12,000 for STAP. 

Overall, Noden had a great ride, except for one complaint.

“It was a beautiful day and the ride was great. But there was more traffic on Route 89 than I would’ve liked,” he said.