Aug 13, 2019
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: Trillium Health will hold its AIDS Red Ribbon Ride (ARRR) kickoff event on Saturday, August 10, at Cobbs Hill Park. ARRR riders will gather at Cobbs Hills, along with community leaders and supporters, where they will start their nearly 400-mile, five-day route following brief remarks and refreshments. They will ride through Canandaigua and around Cayuga Lake, Keuka Lake, and Honeoye Lake, before returning to Rochester Wednesday, August 14, for a “Welcome Back” celebration at Trillium Health where the final fundraising tally will be announced.
WHEN & WHERE:
ARRR Kickoff: Saturday, August 10, 7:30 am to 8:30 am, Cobbs Hill in Rochester, NY
“Welcome Back” Celebration: Wednesday, August 14, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Trillium Health, 259 Monroe Ave.
WHO: This year’s ARRR includes 8 riders and 15-20 volunteers. This year’s sponsors are Usherwood Office Technology and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Riders are also sponsored by individual donors. The ARRR has brought in over $500,000 over the past 10 years for Trillium Health’s patient care fund and efforts to help end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2020.
At Saturday’s kickoff, Andrea DeMeo, President, and CEO, and Dr. Bill Valenti, Chief of Innovation and Staff Physician, both of Trillium Health, will share words of inspiration and wave the starting line flag.
On Wednesday, upon the ride’s return, Andrea DeMeo and Dr. Bill Valenti will be joined by Trillium Health employees who will recognize the riders, volunteers, and sponsors for their outstanding efforts and support. A special ARRR recognition award will be bestowed upon one of the riders, and the final ARRR fundraising tally will be announced. Staff, friends, and family will be in attendance to celebrate the closing of the 11th year of the ride.
WHY: The ARRR is dedicated to raising money and awareness for those who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS, those who are living with the disease, and those who are at risk. In 2014, Governor Cuomo proposed the goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2020. In New York alone an estimated 181,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS. While much progress has been made to reduce the number of new HIV infections, the epidemic is not over.
Trillium Health is leading the way in our community to end the HIV epidemic through health care delivery, its patient care fund, and innovative community programs and health education that reach vulnerable people who are most at risk, including gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men, people who use injection drugs, youth, and individuals representing communities of color who have been historically underserved. New HIV infections are disproportionately highest within underserved populations. HIV/AIDS has touched many of the ARRR riders' lives, and they choose to participate in the ride to raise funds and awareness, with support from our sponsors and community members.
About Trillium Health
As a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-A-Like community health center, Trillium Health's mission is to promote health equity by providing affordable and extraordinary primary and specialty health care in Rochester, New York, and a nine-county service area. Our comprehensive model, which is LGBTQ-affirming, ensures health care for underserved communities and vulnerable populations, regardless of ability to pay. We offer primary and specialty care, testing, and treatment for HIV, Hepatitis C and STDs, PrEP and PEP, an on-site diagnostic laboratory, community health outreach programming, care management, on-site pharmacy services, harm reduction efforts and more. We operate satellite offices in Bath and Geneva, New York. The Trillium Health family includes The MOCHA Center, community centers for LGBTQ communities of color with locations in Rochester and Buffalo. The MOCHA Center’s goal is to improve the health and wellness of LGBTQ communities of color by linking people to medical care and supportive services. To learn more, visit www.trilliumhealth.org and www.mochacenter.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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