Red Ribbon Ride Reprises

The sixth annual Minnesota Red Ribbon Ride, July 17-20, is off to a great start. The four-day, almost-300-mile bike ride—from Lake City to Rochester, Northfield, and the Twin Cities—already has registered 223 riders and 108 crew members. It has raised an amazing $87,500, with almost three months left to reach the goal of $700,000.

Each rider is expected to raise a modest donation of $1,500, and the crew, although under no such requirement, has a $250 suggested target.

First-time riders, or even alumni coming back for another year, don’t need to worry about riding 300 miles in four days. Each rider is assigned a coach. This individual not only helps train riders on how best to prepare for the long journey, but also assists those worried about meeting their fund-raising goals. A coach, who know exactly what it’s like to be on a multiday cycling event, has experience and a wealth of knowledge to share. According to the Red Ribbon Ride, he or she is “your main point of contact and your rock of support.”

Seven area HIV/AIDS organizations benefit from the anticipated $700,000 dollars to be taken in by the event: African American AIDS Task Force, The Aliveness Project, Clare Housing, Hope House of St. Croix Valley, Minnesota AIDS Project, Park House, and Rural AIDS Action Network.

For more info, visit www.redribbonride.org.