The Finger Lakes Ride For Life raised $129,500 for the Southern Tier AIDS Program on Saturday, as 220 cyclists took routes around Cayuga Lake in the annual fundraiser's first year under its new name.
Riders set out from Stewart Park in Ithaca at 7 a.m. on routes ranging from 14 to 106 miles. The organization said cyclists came from eight states, including as far away as California and Montana, while volunteers and sponsors staffed stops along the way.
The Sept. 19 ride was the event's 28th year. Previously called AIDS Ride For Life, it was renamed after the Southern Tier AIDS Program announced an expanded mission in June. The organization says its services now reach people facing HIV and AIDS, chronic illness, substance use disorder, mental health challenges and other barriers to care.
The ride remains the program's largest annual fundraising event. Registered participants choose a route and raise money for the organization, which said donations from this year's event will continue to be accepted through the end of 2026. The $129,500 figure is the amount reported as of the Sept. 22 release, not necessarily a final total.
Kayla Thomas, the program's special events coordinator, said participants and volunteers helped riders complete the routes and return safely to Stewart Park. She described the support at pit stops and from other cyclists as an important reason people come back to the event.
The organization said more than 150 people participated in the 2025 ride and raised more than $130,000. Because that earlier total was reported only as “more than” $130,000, the release does not support an exact year-to-year comparison in dollars, though it reports a higher rider count this year.
Molina Healthcare was this year's presenting sponsor, and CSP Management was the Community Champion sponsor. The release said CSP has supported the fundraiser since its inception in 1998. Sponsors and community volunteers assisted the 2026 riders at the stops around the lake.
The Southern Tier AIDS Program says all money raised by registered riders goes to its services. It did not provide a breakdown of how this year's proceeds will be allocated among the services in its announcement.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.