Cycle For The Cause HIV Ride Goes Through Woonsocket, Smithfield

WOONSOCKET, RI — If you're in Woonsocket or Smithfield Friday morning and see a bunch of people biking and wearing costumes, stop them and say hello. Cycle for the Cause, a 275 mile bike ride from Massachusetts to New York City to benefit HIV/AIDS prevention is making stops in those towns.

Cyclists will be stopping through before 11 a.m. The stops are as follows:

• Woonsocket - BPOE Elks Lodge at 380 Social Street
• Smithfield - Stillwater Reservoir Stump Pond Fishing Area at 70 Log Road.

Danni Michaeli, whose been riding with Cycle for the Cause for a number of years said a big part of the cause is raising awareness for HIV prevention because people don't realize HIV is more preventable and treatable than it was in the 90s. He also encourages people to stop and ask questions if they like as some communities are more aware of the reasons for the event than others.

"Some of the towns are kind of aware of it (the bike ride) and we do see people along side the road..."Michaeli said. "Sometimes it's more sometimes it's less, but people are often stopping us along the way asking us what's going on and getting educated."

Cycle for the Cause is an annual event run by the LGBT Community Center in New York City. All funds raised go to the center's HIV/AIDS prevention and support services.

Photo credit: Inspired Storytellers