Suzuki Motor Corporation joins TV and radio personality Big Tigger to present the fourth installment of Big Tigger’s HIV/AIDS RIDE FOR LIFE. Launching a bold and aggressive fund-raising and awareness campaign benefiting HIV/AIDS, Suzuki and Big Tigger’s Street Corner Foundation (SCF) will bring together over 2,000 bikers and enthusiasts for the extraordinary motorcycle charity ride & grand finale event. Big Tigger’s 4th Annual HIV/AIDS RIDE FOR LIFEwill be held Saturday, August 13, 2011 and will commence at Prince George’s Stadium (Baysox Stadium) in Bowie, Maryland and conclude at United Medical Center in Washington, DC.
As the Presenting Sponsor of RIDE FOR LIFE, Suzuki has reinforced the commitment and goal to increase community action and raise local and national awareness about the importance and ease of HIV testing. The historic ride will assemble both veteran riders and newcomers to make the 23.4 mile trek to raise funds, support the Foundation’s efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS, and to showcase the community’s determination to end the devastating disease.
“Suzuki is a staple in the motorcycle community and we are excited to have the premier motor corporation to join us to pass on the message ‘Get Tested – Know Your Status,’ states activist and TV and radio icon Big Tigger.
The primary goal of this monumental event is to address the increasing rate of infection in communities of color and in individuals under the age of 25 in the Maryland and Washington DC areas as well as the rest of the country. Additionally, the ride will renew our sense of urgency about HIV/AIDS as a national health problem.
Hosted by Big Tigger, RIDE FOR LIFE will begin at 7am on Saturday, August 13th at Prince George’s Stadium (Baysox Stadium), Bowie, MD for registration and staging. The official ride will commence at 12:00 noon, travel along the event route, and conclude at United Medical Center in Washington DC. Big Tigger will lead the convoy of 2,000 riders, representing over 100 bike clubs from around the country for an inspiring event that will include HIV testing and health screening and a fun-filled day with live music and entertainment, food merchandise vendors.
Haling as one of the largest African-American motorcycle benefits for HIV/AIDS awareness, RIDE FOR LIFE has historically garnished the support of over 180 motorcycle clubs, thousands of registered bikers, Washington DC Mayor’s office and Prince George’s County Executive Office and various government agencies. RIDE FOR LIFE holds the testing record of 854 participants during a single HIV/AIDS testing initiative.
Registration for this year’s momentous ride is currently available at various locations including T.G.I. Friday’s in Greenbelt, MD every Wednesday from 8pm -10 pm and Freestate Cycle located at 8601 Central Avenue in Capitol Heights, MD Tuesday- Sunday from 11am – 7pm.
Interested participants may also register online at the following sites:
www.streetcornerfoundation.org
www.wpgc.com
www.freestatecycle.com
The registration fee of $20 includes the ride and the grand finale event.
About Street Corner Foundation, LLC
The Street Corner Foundation, LLC (SCF) is committed to empowering and strengthening diverse urban communities through proactive, innovative programming. Based in the belief that knowledge is the key to improving issues affecting the community, SCF’s focus is two-fold; to increase public awareness of HIV/AIDS by funding educational initiatives targeting prevention, and to improve quality of life for youth and by supporting programs that focus on literacy and self-esteem.
The fight against HIV/AIDS is not over!
• HIV/AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 550,000 Americans. Today, about 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and one fifth of those infected are unaware of their infection. 2
• The District of Columbia reported 19,864 AIDS cases to CDC, cumulatively, from the beginning of the epidemic through December 2008. This accounts for approximately 3.2% of the population over the age of 12 years old. 1
• Nationally, 1 out of every 3 people infected with HIV don’t know it. 2
Source 1: The District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Annual Report 2009
Source 2: The Center For Disease Control, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention
