TEMPE, Ariz. —CCBill today announced its continued support to the fight against HIV/AIDS by sponsoring the upcoming AIDS/LifeCycle 2016 bike ride event with a charitable donation to community peer, event rider and Cybersocket co-founder Morgan Sommer.
“We believe that CCBill’s contribution to Morgan’s efforts is the least we can do to keep attention on the continued need for critical services for people impacted by HIV/AIDS,” said Gary Jackson, managing vice president of sales for payment processor CCBill. “AIDS is not over and events like AIDS/Lifecycle — with Morgan’s amazing commitment year after year — helps to keep attention on this vital issue and supports providing direct help for those who need it most.”
Now in its 15th year, AIDS/LifeCycle 2016 is long-distance bike ride from the Bay Area to Southern California and is the world’s largest annual HIV/AIDs fundraiser.
Taking place June 5-11, the AIDS/LifeCycle is co-produced by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation and is designed to advance their shared interest to reduce new HIV infections and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS.
"For the past six years I have been a cyclist/fundraiser in AIDS LifeCycle, a 545 mile/7-day bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles,” Sommer said. “Gratefully, CCBill has been an extremely generous donor for each of these years. Due to the generosity of so many friends and colleagues in our industry I have been able to raise $81,588 for this organization over the past six years.
“This year I am hoping to raise another $18,412 before I leave in 25 days to make it an even $100,000 in six years.”
“As cyclists and fundraisers we are entirely self-supporting,” Sommers said. “Your donations are used by the beneficiary organization for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and outreach programs for teens, grants to smaller underfunded organizations all across North America, and research that is pioneering HIV vaccines and hopefully a cure. I have been amazed and humbled by the generous people I work with and would appreciate your donation this year, no amount is too small."
“We look forward to the day when this ride is not necessary and the time of HIV/AIDS is history. But until then, we are grateful to Morgan for his efforts, and encourage others to join in offering their support,” Jackson said.
For more information about how to get involved or make a donation, visit Sommer’s 2016 AIDS/LifeCycle participation page on the AIDS/LifeCycle website.