SF AIDS Foundation miscalculates number of bike riders

May 13, 2002


Well, it seems as though the SF AIDS Foundation miscalculated how many people
would participate in its latest greedy move to fund six figure salaries
through an HIV/AIDS bike ride scam.

The excerpted press release below from the SFAF claimed more than a thousand
folks would travel on their AIDS ride from SF to LA. But the Kaiser AIDS web
site notes that a SF Chronicle story that reported only 700 people were there for
the launch of the SFAF ride.

SFAF said 1,000, while the Chronicle and Kaiser claim just 700 people. A
difference of 300. Oops. A slight discrepancy in numbers, but never mind, we
are used to slippery numbers and stats from SFAF.

Michael Petrelis

--

http://www.aidslifecycle.org/article.cfm?id=118

AIDS/LifeCycle Raising Awareness and Funds for HIV/AIDS Services

New Cycling Fundraiser Will Support Wide Range of Vital Services

San Francisco, Los Angeles, May 1, 2002 -- More than a thousand cyclists and
volunteers will travel through scenic California cities and towns May 13-19
as part of the inaugural AIDS/LifeCycle, a new fundraising cycling endurance
event produced by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay &
Lesbian Center.

Participants will bike approximately 600 miles from San
Francisco to Los Angeles, with net proceeds benefiting HIV/AIDS services and
educational programs at the two non-profit agencies.

"This event is about
HIV-disease and AIDS, and about re-energizing and re-educating the public
about this ongoing public health crisis," said Pat Christen, Executive
Director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "The rate of new HIV
infections, particularly among younger people, has been increasing for
several years. Recently the Centers for Disease Control issued their
preliminary findings from 2001, showing that the incidence of AIDS cases -
not HIV infection, but AIDS - has increased for the first time in seven
years. It's up about 8 percent nationally - that's a terrifying statistic."

Funds raised by AIDS/LifeCycle will support critical HIV/AIDS services
provided by the AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

[snip]

- - -


http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv.cfm


Across The Nation

Man Dies on First Day of California AIDS/LifeCycle, Created Over Dispute
With AIDSRide Sponsor Pallotta TeamWorks

[May 14, 2002]

A 57-year-old man died yesterday while taking part in the first day of the
inaugural AIDS/LifeCycle, a 600-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los
Angeles that was created this year by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and
the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center after a dispute over returns with
California AIDSRide sponsor Pallotta TeamWorks, the San Francisco Chronicle
reports.

The man collapsed from a heart attack yesterday on Highway 1 in southern San
Mateo County after a lunch break (Heredia, San Francisco Chronicle, 5/14).

He had ridden about 58 miles that morning and was treated in an ambulance but
was pronounced dead before he could be transferred to a nearby hospital,
Gustavo Suarez, a spokesperson for SFAF, said (Associated Press, 5/14).

The death is a setback for AIDS/LifeCycle, which was created after SFAF and
the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center pulled out of the annual AIDSRide
sponsored by Pallotta TeamWorks, claiming that the for-profit company "did
not return enough money" to charities.

Pallotta sued to stop the competing ride, citing breech of contract, but a
Los Angeles judge dismissed the case.

Yesterday's start only drew about 700 participants, compared to the 2,800
riders at last year's AIDSRide. SFAF Executive Director Pat Christen blamed
the legal dispute for the low turnout.

"We had a challenge to face putting on this event. After we made the decision
to end it with the California AIDSRide, they took us to court and we didn't
get a green light from the judge to go forward with LifeCycle until the end
of January," she said.

California AIDSRide-9, which will benefit 13 not-for-profit HIV/AIDS agencies
in California, will begin in San Francisco on June 2 and proceed to Los
Angeles.

About 1,100 people are registered for that ride (San Francisco Chronicle,
5/14).