THE SMART RIDE Re-Imagined Raises over $700,000 

Florida’s 165-Mile Bike Ride from Miami to Key West is Re-Imagined in a COVID-19 world to benefits six HIV/AIDS Non-Profit Organizations.

Fort Lauderdale — January 24, 2021 – SMART Ride 17 happened, it looked different according to founder Glen Weinzimer “we had to reimagined everything, the need to provide the agencies we benefit and ultimately the individuals needing services remained great, NOT doing an event was out of the question”.

Traditionally SMART Ride (Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride) is a 2 day, 165 miles bicycle ride from the University of Miami to Key West. In a normal year we would have seen over 250 individuals supporting the efforts of the over 500 cyclists as they travel south to Key West. In 2019 the event, which guarantees that 100 % of the funds raised by its participants goes to the benefiting agencies raised over $1.4 Million.

This year with the help of riders and volunteers the ride was reimagined  and individuals were encouraged to ride in their own back yards, to do their metric of 165 in whatever form that took. We had participants fly in from California and ride their usual 165 miles, as well some participants chose to do stationary biking because of COVID and others spent the weekend cleaning the beach for 165 minutes. They even had one person paddleboard for 16.5 miles over the weekend. The SMART Ride is the largest HIV/AIDS ride in the eastern United States and second largest in the country.

Aiming to raise $500,000 in 2020 due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the event exceeded its goal by raising over $700,000 to support six HIV/AIDS organizations throughout Florida. The SMART Ride has now given back over $12 million dollars to support programs and services for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS throughout its 17-year history. SMART Ride is the only HIV/AIDS ride in the country that gives back 100% of all the funds raised. None of this would be possible if not for the support of our sponsors, especially our Title Sponsor CAN Community Health. Sponsors make it possible to cover our ongoing expenses and give back 100%.

On Sunday, January 17th, 2021 the event organizers hosted a virtual Check Presentation Ceremony. Instead of the usual 300 people that attend this festive event there were only 14 people and everyone was super vigilant about safety. All donning their masks, keeping social distance and broadcasting through social media the amounts raised and distributed.

SMART Ride 18 will take place on November 18th-20th, 2021, organizers believe that the vaccine distribution will allow for a safe in person ride. “We anticipate selling out early this year because of the unprecedented demand, Weinzimer said, and continued “we believe this will be a record breaking year”. The ride is so important to so many in our communities throughout Florida where we currently have the highest rate of new HIV infection in the United States.

Direct beneficiaries of this years and  next are:

  • Miracle of Love, Inc., the oldest and largest non-profit minority AIDS Service Organization in Central Florida.
  • Metro Wellness & Community Centers, a multi-faceted agency in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties serving the HIV+ community via medical case management, eligibility, minority aids initiative, mental health, substance abuse and prevention/testing/outreach services.
  • Compass Community Center, Palm Beach County’s LGBTQ center, aims to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the character of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Compass promotes awareness of the caring nature of our diverse community.
  • Broward House, improving the quality of life for individuals impacted with chronic health challenges, including HIV, by providing pathways to wellness.
  • Pridelines, which for more than 30 years has provided safe space, social support, skills building, leadership development, HIV testing and support services, referrals to competent mental health, health care and support for LGBTQ youth, their straight allies, and the community. Pridelines is Miami-Dade County’s LGBTQ Community Center.
  • AIDS Help, Florida’s oldest continuously operating AIDS service organization and the only agency in Monroe County that serves individuals with HIV and AIDS.

SMART Ride 18 has already been scheduled for November 19th and 20th, 2021. If you are looking to register to ride, crew, or volunteer please visit The SMART Ride website www.thesmartride.org. If you would like to become a sponsor or become more involved contact the organizers directly from the website.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]