Cyclists in the annual AIDS/LifeCycle, a 545-mile trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, roll through Watsonville on Monday morning on their way to the next camp site in King City. (Tarmo Hannula)

KING CITY — More than 2,000 AIDS/LifeCycle participants are continuing their seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles on Monday, beginning in Santa Cruz and ending in King City.

Participants, ages 18 to 92, are from nearly every state and 14 countries. This year they have raised more than $11.7 million to support San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the HIV-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

Monday morning, the cyclists left Santa Cruz and stopped for lunch at Central Park in Salinas before continuing their journey down to King City.

They will set up camp at San Lorenzo County Park, with many cyclists arriving from 4 to 7 p.m. Camp officially closes each night at 9:30 p.m.

The participants will hit the road again Tuesday morning and head south to Paso Robles, their next camp site. They plan to stop in Bradley for lunch.

AIDS/LifeCycle is a fully-supported, seven-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It’s a life-changing ride — not a race — through some of California’s most beautiful countryside.

Co-produced by the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation, AIDS/LifeCycle is designed to advance their shared interest to reduce new HIV transmissions and improve the quality of life for people living with HIV.

“The funds raised by AIDS/LifeCycle support the many life-saving services we provide for free to the community,” said Tyler TerMeer, PhD, CEO of San Francisco AIDS Foundation and 12-time AIDS/LifeCycle participant. “The epidemic has been ongoing for more than 40 years, and it is far from over. Every year, this event helps bring us closer to a time when we reach zero new HIV infections, when everyone living with HIV is fully supported with health and wellness services, and when people at risk for HIV have the tools and information they need to prevent HIV.”

Since 1994, participants have raised more than $300 million for the HIV- and AIDS-related services.

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Ryan Cronk is the managing editor for King City Rustler and Salinas Valley Tribune, a unified publication of Greenfield News, Soledad Bee and Gonzales Tribune. He covers general news for South Monterey County and the surrounding communities.

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