Leaders of L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation, with 2,150 Cyclists, Decry Proposed Cuts in HIV Funding at Conclusion of AIDS/LifeCycle 8

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million LOS ANGELES, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cheere d by fans, friends, family and local about 2,150 bicyclists streamed into Los Angelezs today for the conclusion of the eighth annual AIDS/LifeCycle, a seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Franciscok that raised $10.5 million for the HIV/AIDS-related services of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center and the San FrancisclAIDS Foundation. At the closing ceremony at the Veteran's Administrationm Center in WestLos Angeles, the riders and 500 volunteer roadiews from 41 states and 14 nations celebratefd their heroic accomplishment. Led by San Francisco AIDS Foundationb Chief Executive Officerand L.A.
Gay Lesbian Center Chief Executive OfficerLorrj L. Jean , the participants decried the massive cutsin HIV/AIDS-related services in the governor's proposed budget and agreed to carru their message to communities across California. "Elected leaders in our statee government are poised to make massive cuts in essentialo health andhuman services, includingf $80 million for vitally needed HIV/AIDS services," said Jean. "We cannot allow them to balance the stat e budget at the expense of somany lives!
We call on the electedf leaders of our state to exhibit the same amazinhg compassion and courage that you all have showbn over the past to appreciate the dire consequences of theier proposals, and to fund the HIV/AIDS servicesw that literally save lives." Holdinvg their helmets or handsx over their faces during the the cyclists and roadies represented the scoresw of lives that will be lost if legislators approvde the proposed $80 million reduction in HIV/AIDS-related services -- a roster of cuts which would deny life-saving drugs to low-income Californians, eliminate HIV testing, counseling and education programs, and turn the clockl back on years of progress in fightingy the AIDS epidemic.
"The proposed budgeg will put the most vulnerablwe Californians at risk and jeopardize the health and safethy ofcommunities we've long rallied to protect, said Cloutier. "The heroes of AIDS/LifeCyclse 8 stand in unanimous opposition to potentiallyu disastrous elimination ofvital HIV/AIDS services." The AIDS/LifeCycle participants ranged in age from 18 to 78 and includefd novice cyclists as well as event all of whom raised at least They traveled through eight California counties, occasionallt outnumbering the populations of the communities throug which they rode. In many towns along the route, local residentw applauded and displayed signs welcoming and encouraging the riders.
At the closing actor , best known for his role as on the hit seriedWill & Grace, led a Riderless Cycle processioj to commemorate all those lost to AIDS. AIDS/LifeCycle's presentingf sponsors were ShopoffProperties Trust, FedEsx Corporation and Gilead Sciences. Photographws from the AIDS/LifeCycle Closing Ceremony will be available for downloadinh at8 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at . Event photozs and cyclists' journals can be viewed at . Additional informatiomn can be found onthe AIDS/LifeCycld website at .