Sunday party kicks off series of events toward 2014 AV200 bike ride

The 12th ride of the Action Cycling Atlanta AIDS Vaccine 200, benefiting AIDS vaccine research at Emory Vaccine Center and local AIDS service organizations, kicks off November 17 with registration party at private home

Action Cycling Atlanta (www.ActionCycling.org) is holding a rider registration kick-off party Sunday, November 17, at the home of Erick Metzger (622 Ansley Circle NE. Atlanta, GA 30324) from 1:30-4 p.m. The group wants 250 cyclists to join the two-day, 200-mile AIDS Vaccine 200 (AV200) ride to benefit AIDS vaccine research at the Emory Vaccine Center. 

The 12th annual AV200, May 17-18, 2014, is sponsored by the all-volunteer Action Cycling and travels from Emory 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. Can’t commit to ride 200 miles? This year a 35-mile “no excuses” ride has been added as an option.

The November 17 registration event is for riders as well as anyone who wants to volunteer or simply learn more about Action Cycling and the AV200. Riders who are registered for the 2014 ride before the end of Sunday’s event will be entered into a drawing for a CycleOps Fluid 2 indoor cycle trainer.

RSVP by emailing RSVP@actioncycling.org or by calling 404-954-2925.

“Feel free to bring as many friends as you like to register and join our ride,” says Chris Bess, Co-Ride Director. “Last year we raised $304,000, we’re excited about our goal of raising $350,000 this year, and will again have a lot of fun doing it. For instance, there will be other great events in the run up to the AV200 in May.”

Thus far the AV200 rides have raised more than $1.6 million for the Emory Vaccine Center, AIDS Athens, Jerusalem House and Positive Impact. Thanks to its generous sponsors, Action Cycling is able to donate 100 percent of all funds raised by participants to local AIDS service organizations and AIDS vaccine research. These unrestricted funds fill funding gaps that cannot be met through grant dollars alone.
Registration for the AV200 itself is open - regardless of whether or not riders attend the November 17 registration party:www.AV200.org.

“Building public awareness for HIV/AIDS vaccine research is challenging,” says Co-Ride Director Tina Chang. “Raising money for an AIDS Vaccine is difficult. And making the commitment to accept these challenges is a serious one, but we make it fun – and rewarding – by creating great events throughout the year leading up to the big ride itself.”

For more information about the AV200 ride, or to donate, visitwww.ActionCycling.org. Action Cycling’s goal is to create a world without AIDS.

Potential AV200 sponsors should contact Dr. Craig Fisk, sponsorship@actioncycling.org or 914-582-0344.

More information:

In addition to the November 17 registration party, Action Cycling plans a December event in recognition of World AIDS Day, December 1.

For more information about the Emory Vaccine Center, visithttp://vaccines.emory.edu. 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.