AIDS Vaccine 200
Encyclopedia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The ride raises awareness and vital funds for HIV/AIDS vaccine research having donated to date over $750,000 to the Emory Vaccine Center, one of the world's leading vaccine research centers working to find an HIV vaccine
HIV vaccine
An HIV vaccine that protects vaccinated individuals from HIV infection is the goal of many HIV research programmes. Currently, there is no effective vaccine against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS...
.
The Ride
The 2-day ride takes place in May each year. More than 100 cyclists and an army of volunteers complete the ride each year. The ride begins on the campus of Emory UniversityEmory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Atlanta and passes through several small, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
towns until cyclists arrive at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center located north of Eatonton, Georgia in the Oconee National Forest. Cyclists and volunteers lodge Saturday night in cabins located alongside the edge of Rock Eagle's 110 acres (44.5 ha) lake. Cyclists choose several different mileage options and can customize the length of the ride to their ability levels. The full ride entails back-to-back century ride
Century ride
A century ride is a bicycle ride of 100 miles or more within 12 hours, usually as a cycling club-sponsored event. Many cycling clubs sponsor an annual century ride as both a social event for cyclists and as a fund-raiser for the club’s other activities...
s, 100 miles (160.9 km) each day for a total of 200 miles (321.9 km). Cyclists may also choose a shorter 80 miles (128.7 km) route for a total of 160 miles (257.5 km). A third option is for cyclists to form relay squads of up to 5 riders. The squad then divides the 100 miles (160.9 km) distance each day into relay segments as long as each cyclist wishes to ride. The ride follows country roads across rural areas and rolling hills as riders pass through several small, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
towns including Stone Mountain, Walnut Grove, Social Circle, and Madison.
History
Action Cycling Atlanta was formed in 2003 by a group of cyclists who had participated in the 2002 European AIDS Vaccine Ride, one of the last AIDSRides produced by Pallotta Teamworks. The group was dismayed at cost overruns of the European ride. Also, the end of Pallotta Teamworks created a fundraising vacuum for the beneficiaries receiving proceeds from the rides produced by Pallotta. Action Cycling Atlanta was incorporated as a 501c3 charitable organization and chose to continue fundraising for AIDS vaccine research at the Emory Vaccine Center, located in Atlanta, GA and a former beneficiary of the Pallotta events. The ride existed as the Action Cycling 200 for its first 6 years. Fundraising results of $175,000 in 2009 pushed the amount ACA has donated to over $575,000. The majority of these funds ($557,000) has gone towards AIDS vaccine research at Emory Vaccine Center. The ride also occasionally donates a portion of ride proceeds to related AIDS service organizationAIDS service organization
AIDS service organizations are community based organizations that provide community support. While their primary function is to provide needed services to individuals with HIV, they also provide support services for their families and friends as well as conduct prevention efforts...
s. Written into the bylaws of Action Cycling is its commitment to adhere to the standards set forth by the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance and to minimizing event expenses returning as much of the funds raised directly to the charitable cause. To date, 100% of the money raised by ride participants has been donated to the beneficiary. Action Cycling is able to do this by underwriting the cost of the event through registration fees and generous event sponsors. The ride originally traveled from the Hope Clinic in Decatur, GA to Athens, GA. To accommodate more riders, in 2007, ride organizers changed the route to begin and end on the Emory University campus with a Saturday night stay at Rock Eagle near Eatonton, GA. In 2009, the name of the ride was changed to the AIDS Vaccine 200 to communicate more clearly the purpose of the ride.
The Beneficiary
The Emory Vaccine Center works to improve human health by conducting fundamental and clinical research that leads to the development of effective vaccines against diseases of global importance. Developing a vaccine to halt the AIDS epidemic is a key part of the mission of the Emory Vaccine Center, and much of the research at the EVC relates to this effort. Scientists specializing in basic immunology strive to elucidate the fundamental workings of the immune system and how it responds to infection. Other investigators examine the interaction between HIV and the immune cells it attacks in order to identify ways to prevent or interrupt the process by which the virus destroys the immune system.Researchers translate these findings into new AIDS vaccine strategies, which are tested rigorously in preclinical studies for safety and efficacy before being considered for human clinical trials. The Hope Clinic of the Emory Vaccine Center, a freestanding clinic located in downtown Decatur, Georgia, conducts vaccine clinical trials and related research studies involving human volunteers. Thus, the EVC’s AIDS vaccine program spans the entire research process, from basic science to translational research to preclinical and clinical trials.
The EVC is the only university-based vaccine research center in the U.S. to have an AIDS vaccine candidate in clinical trials. Created and developed by EVC scientist Harriet Robinson, Ph.D., and her colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, this vaccine candidate began phase 2 human trials in February 2009. The trial, designated HVTN 205, is being conducted by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network
HIV Vaccine Trials Network
The HIV Vaccine Trials Network is a non-profit organization which connects physicians and scientists with activists and community educators for the purpose of conducting clinical trials seeking a safe and effective HIV vaccine. Collaboratively, research professionals and laypeople review...
. Dr. Robinson joined GeoVax, a company which she co-founded, to be able to steward her vaccine candidate through the phase 2 clinical trials now underway. "It's important for me to be at GeoVax full time to work with our excellent team in this important effort," said Dr. Robinson. "It is my conviction that our AIDS vaccine is a prime candidate to be safe and effective in preventing AIDS."
The Importance of Unrestricted Funds for AIDS Vaccine Research
Large donations in the form of government or foundation grants fail to cover many essential expenses. Emory Vaccine Center relies upon individual or unrestricted donations to fund the exploration of new ideas before larger grants become available. On average, each private funding dollar is leveraged into 17 additional research dollars in the form of prestigious federal grants. Emory Vaccine Center credits Action Cycling as one source of unrestricted funds used to begin initial research by Harriet Robinson. Data from those initial tests were used to qualify for large grants to continue funding the research that has resulted in an AIDS vaccine candidate moving into Phase II human trials.Fundraising Results
The ride has been able to provide increased funding year over year due to the diligence of volunteers. One of the reasons Action Cycling is so fiscally effective is that no part of the money raised through sponsorships or fundraising donations is spent on salaries of any kind. To date, Action Cycling, through its Action Cycling 200 and AIDS Vaccine 200 rides has donated a total of $795,240 for AIDS vaccine research and AIDS-related services.Fundraising Results by Year
| Year | Total | Emory Vaccine Center | Aids Athens | Jerusalem House | Positive Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $49,365 | $49,365 | - | - | - |
| 2004 | $59,075 | $59,075 | - | - | - |
| 2005 | $52,125 | $37,000 | $15,125 | - | - |
| 2006 | $79,975 | $74,975 | $5,000 | - | - |
| 2007 | $75,500 | $75,500 | - | - | - |
| 2008 | $106,000 | $106,000 | - | - | - |
| 2009 | $175,000 | $175,000 | - | - | - |
| 2010 | $198,200 | $190,000 | - | $6,200 | $2,000 |
| Total | $795,240 | $766,915 | $20,125 | $6,200 | $2,000 |