LOS ANGELES, June 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- After a week experiencing the physical and emotional challenges of a 585-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles, more than 2,200 participants in AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC) rolled to a victorious finish in West Los Angeles today, having raised over $8 million from 70,000 donors. Money raised from the event will support HIV services provided by the event's co-producers, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

"In this 25th year of the fight against AIDS, 2,200 participants took a week out of their lives to remind the world that AIDS deserves all our attention," said Mark Cloutier, executive director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "There are 150,000 Californians living with HIV and an expected 2,000 new infections this year. This money will fund services for those with HIV and support us in new innovative approaches to reduce HIV infections."

AIDS/LifeCycle 5 set a new record for participation and money raised, attracting cyclists from nine countries and 40 states, including a contingent of people living with HIV known as the Positive Pedalers. No other event raises as much money for HIV/AIDS services. The riders, volunteers and thousands of well wishers were welcomed to Los Angeles by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Lorri L. Jean, chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, told the crowd at the closing ceremony that this year's ride held special meaning for riders and supporters.

"The second day of the ride marked 25 years since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic," Jean said. "And still the epidemic rages on. Here in the presence of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, we are reminded of those we have loved and lost to AIDS. Every one of the 585 miles we traveled this week is not only a reminder that we are all living with AIDS, but also a rededication to the belief that there is no greater power than people collectively committed to making a difference in the world."

Over the course of the week-long event, the 1,800 riders -- sometimes outnumbering the populations of the communities they rode through -- were greeted by local residents of eight counties. This year, local AIDS services organizations provided education, testing and outreach as ALC moved through different communities. Supported by the California Office of AIDS, the efforts highlighted HIV/AIDS awareness in those communities and emphasized prevention and the importance of early testing and treatment.

It is estimated that 150,000 Californians are living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are unaware of their infection. In California, HIV/AIDS has had a particularly severe impact on the gay community, with 77 percent of all cases occurring among gay and bisexual men, compared with 54 percent nationally. Communities of color, including gay and bisexual men of color, have been disproportionately affected, as well. In 2004, African Americans represented 13 percent of the U.S. population, yet they accounted for nearly 50 percent of all new AIDS cases; Latinos represented 14 percent of the U.S. population while accounting for 20 percent of the new AIDS cases.

AIDS/LifeCycle is made possible in part through generous donations from its business and corporate sponsors, including: presenting sponsor, Subaru; event sponsors: Wells Fargo, Gilead and FedEx; official Bay Area media sponsor, KPIX CH 5/UPN 44; and the following in-kind sponsors: Cannondale; University of California, San Francisco Medical Center; Southern California University of Health Sciences; American Medical Response; Paceline Products, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, CLIF Bar, Safeway, John DeMartini Co. Inc., FullBloom Baking Company and Vitamin Water.

Additional information about the history of the event, details regarding the benefiting organizations, and profiles of individuals participating in the event and their personal reasons for doing so can be found on the AIDS/LifeCycle Web site press room at http://www.aidslifecycle.org/press.