SMART Ride 2016 is complete.
According to organizers, the annual cycling event raised $1,037,140 for AIDS Service Organizations.
For two days cyclists peddled a 165-mile course from Miami to Key West. Joseph Locke was the top individual rider, raising $33,600. CDTC Cyclones were the top team, raising $64,143.
SMART Ride stands for Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride. The 2016 ride, which kicked off at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, was the 14th year.
“Our goal is to create memories that will fill your heart and soul,” said Glen Weinzimer, Founder of The SMART Ride.
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Participants come from all over the globe to ride and this year they were greeted with sunny and cool conditions. Weinzimer’s crew outpaced 49 other crews in fundraising with $12,030.
“For me it is very personal,” Weinzimer said. “In 1993 I learned I was not just HIV positive but I had full blown AIDS and the prediction was grim at best -- three months if I was lucky and an initial prediction of 10 days. I'm very lucky and am surrounded by amazing people and the goal now is to eradicate the disease and stop the spread of the disease -- especially to our youth and minorities that are disproportionately affected.”
With the 2016 ride in the books, SMART Ride has now raised more than $9.5 million since its inception in 2003.
For more information, visit www.thesmartride.org