ABOVE: SMART Ride 17 organizers unveil initial fundraising totals Nov. 22. Photo via SMART Ride.
Organizers of the 17th annual SMART Ride have announced that this year’s reimagined fundraiser has raised more than $660,000 for HIV/AIDS organizations in Florida.
The SMART Ride is the nation’s second largest AIDS bicycle ride and the only one of its size to donate the entirety of funds raised to service organizations. Beneficiaries have received more than $11.8 million since 2003.
The ride has traditionally welcomed hundreds of cyclists to complete a 165-mile trek from Miami to Key West. It was restructured this year in response to COVID-19, encouraging participants to log 165 miles, minutes or other measurable metric for physical activities of their choice Nov. 20-22.
“It was amazing to see people reimagine their 165,” SMART Ride Founder Glen Weinzimer says. “We had people riding in San Diego, walking in NYC, riding in Atlanta, cleaning beaches for 165 minutes in Fort Lauderdale, doing 16.5 miles of stand-up paddle boarding and even volunteering for 16.5 hours, all to raise awareness and funds to combat HIV in our own backyard.”
Initial totals showed more than $635,000 had been raised by this year’s nearly 700 registered participants. SMART Ride 17’s beneficiaries include AIDS Help in Monroe County, Broward House in Wilton Manors, Compass Community Center in Palm Beach County, Metro Inclusive Health in Tampa Bay, Miracle of Love in Central Florida and Pridelines in Miami-Dade County.
The total was first revealed via social media Nov. 22 via social media, seen below:
“In a year of so much fear, disappointment, loneliness, uncertainty, sickness and economic despair, you shined as you always do,” Weinzimer shared afterwards. “Hurricanes have tried to stop us, bitter cold weather has tried to derail us, but this was our biggest challenge ever and you came through.”
This year’s fundraising total has climbed to $660,000 in the weeks since and donations will continue to be collected through December.
“We’re especially grateful for CAN Community Health. Without their title sponsorship, this year would have been impossible to produce,” Weinzimer says.
“In the midst of a pandemic, it was heartwarming to see people raise so much money,” he continues. “Especially when there is a fear on many to ask in this most unusual of times with so many caught in an economic crisis. We have seen that those who have the means have been more generous than usual and willing to help.”
A reimagined check distribution for this year’s beneficiaries is currently scheduled for January.
For more information about this year’s reimagined SMART Ride or to donate additional funds, visit TheSMARTRide.org.
