SMART Ride (Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride) 2010 takes place for the 6th time from January 7th through the 9th. The SMART Ride is a 2-Day, 165 mile non-competitive bicycle ride from Miami to Key West. This event is …
SMART Ride (Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride) 2010 takes place for the 6th time from January 7th through the 9th. The SMART Ride is a 2-Day, 165 mile non-competitive bicycle ride from Miami to Key West. This event is unique to fundraising in that they guarantee 100% of what the participants raise goes to charity. Since 2003 they have raised and returned more than $1.75 million to their benefiting HIV/AIDS agencies.
The benefiting agencies they represent for 2010 are: Metropolitan Charities located in Tampa/St. Pete, the Hug Me Program located in Orlando, the Broward House Located in Broward County, the Center for Positive Connections located in Miami-Dade County and AIDS Help located in Monroe County. These agencies assist men, women and children of all ages that are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. With the assistance of SMART Ride funds they receive direct services such as medical, medicine, pre-natal care, dental, case management, housing, food and emergency assistance.
What makes SMART Ride unique?
- -100% of what riders and crew raise goes back to the benefiting agencies to be used for direct services.
- -Riders/Crew have a degree of control with their pledges as they get to designate which benefiting agency 50% of their pledges goes to.
- -Support of community sponsors with cash, goods and services to help produce the event.
- -All volunteer crew during the event.
- -Grass roots community effort to communicate, educate and motivate riders, crew and sponsors.
They have lots of community sponsors who without their support, they couldn’t give back 100%, but they especially want to thank the following for all of their efforts and dedication to make their event successful: American Medical Response, Lamar Advertising, Lifeway Medical, Rosie’s Bar & Grill, Starbucks, Graffiti Menswear of Key West, Maroone Ford, Mobile Chiropractic, Olive Garden, Sidelines Sports Bar and Hotspots Magazine.
With less than 30 days until ride time, what can you do to help support SMART Ride? Make sure to make a donation to any rider or crew that you know is participating by going to TheSmartRide.org and click on the pledge menu. If you do not know someone that is ok, there are instructions on the pledge menu with what to do. Otherwise, get ready to ride, crew, donate or sponsor in 2011 as they will continue to produce the ride until there is a cure.
