The 27th annual Friends for Life Bike Rally, one of Canada’s longest distance charity cycling events starts on Sunday, August 3, hundreds of cyclists, crew and volunteers will depart from Toronto on a six-day journey to Montreal in support of the life-changing services provided by the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA), AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) and Trellis HIV & Community Care in Kingston.
The riders start off in Toronto at 8:30 a.m. and travel 115 km to the Town Park Rec Centre in Port Hope.
They will then be starting off at 8 a.m. on Monday and traveling 123 km to Adolphustown
About Friends for Life Bike Rally: Founded in 1999, the Friends for Life Bike Rally is one of the longest distance annual cycling events in Canada that brings people together for an inclusive, supportive and life-changing challenge that inspires much-needed help for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Funds raised by the annual charity event support three AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) along the cycling route, including the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA), AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) and Trellis HIV & Community Care.
Why this ride matters
Since 1999, the Friends for Life Bike Rally has raised more than $27.5M with 5,550 cyclists and 2,200 crew and volunteers supporting this important cause.
HIV is still a thing. It remains a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 40 million lives with ongoing transmission globally. Toronto has seen a sustained increase in reported HIV infections since 2016 (with the exception being during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a decrease in STI testing).
Recent research shows that almost five people are infected with the virus every day in our country. These are new infections that do not account for newcomers to Canada, immigrating with HIV – a population that makes up a large portion of new community members seeking HIV-related services.
As inflation and the cost-of-living skyrockets amidst our housing crisis, individuals living with HIV/AIDS continue to face stigma and trauma. The Toronto People with AIDS Foundation is seeing a significant increase in their life-changing services and recently had to pause their financial assistance program.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
