Big Ride For HIV/AIDS Charity Starts Off In Westborough

WESTBOROUGH, MA — A major interstate bike ride to raise money for HIV/AIDS prevention will return in 2022 and will begin in Westborough.

The 2022 Cycle for the Cause ride will lead cyclists on a 275-mile journey from Westborough to New York City. This is the first in-person version of the nearly 30-year-old ride held since 2019. The ride was held virtually during the peak pandemic years, and will continue to offer a virtual option this year.

About 350 cyclists will participate in the 2022 event, raising money for the New York City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. The funds will be used for education and support services related to HIV and AIDS.

“LGBTQ+ and HIV positive communities have a long history of mobilizing to support one another in times of crisis. We continue to do so today, as we bear the weight of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and fight back against the emergence of [monkeypox]. This makes The Center’s services all the more important. Cycle for the Cause will ensure we are able to assist our community with vital needs such as getting tested, enrolling in health insurance, caring for their mental health, and finding housing,” The Center Executive Director Glennda Testone said in a news release.

The Sept. 16 ride will start at the DoubleTree hotel along Computer Drive before heading south to Mashantucket, Conn., and Trumbull, Conn., and the final stop in New York City. The ride will travel through Hopkinton, Milford — where there will be a rest stop for riders — Bellingham and Blackstone.

Find out more about the ride on The Center's website.