26th Annual Hill Country Ride for AIDS

Why is the Hill Country Ride for AIDS So Important?

Thanks to our amazing riders, volunteer crew, donors, and sponsors, the Hill Country Ride for AIDS has raised over $12 million since the inaugural year of 1999-2000. You should be so proud!

Below are just some of the many services your DONATION dollars do for thousands in our Central Texas community.


LOOK AT THE POWER OF EVERY DOLLAR!

$35

  • Covers one rapid HIV test – we know that 40% of people who are HIV+ don’t know it yet. Through testing, we can get them into life saving care, and further reduce the spread of the HIV virus.
  • Food voucher for emergency needs – many of those living with HIV are also living in poverty, and can’t afford their medication and nutritious food. This makes sure they get the food they need.
  • Medical co-payment for one patient – keeping people in consistent medical care keeps them healthy and connected to services. We know this saves lives.

$60

  • Buys someone nutritious food for one month – A month of nutritious food allows someone living with HIV to focus on staying healthy without worrying about the basic need of having enough to eat.
  • Pays for a one month supply of medical prescription co-pays – Medications can reduce the patients viral load and keep them undetectable.
  • Provides a counseling and support group session for someone newly diagnosed – We know that many feel isolated when first diagnosed, and that staying social and connected gets people into care earlier, allowing them to stay healthy.

$120

  • Provides prevention education for 440 people – 20% of Americans still believe you can catch HIV from drinking after someone. 60% say they are unsure what safe sex is. Education is one of the most important tools in reducing new infections.
  • Pays for a specialty medical appointment – Many people with HIV/AIDS have unique medical complications. Access to specialty medical providers is a critical part of holistic care.
  • Provides life skills training – This helps people who are well to learn to present themselves in a job interview, find housing, learn to read, gain computer training, learn nutrition, and discover their self esteem.

$250

  • Keeps someone healthy with one month of medications – Medications can reduce the patients viral load and keep them undetectable.
  • Provides 7 hours of outreach to find people and get them into care – If you are homeless or unemployed, your HIV may not be at the top of list of your priorities. By finding people and making sure they get the care they need, lives are saved.
  • Provides 3 family counseling sessions - It can be devastating for a family when a member is diagnosed, and we know that an intact family unit promotes health and provides a built in support network.

$500

  • Pays for a month of rent for one family in supportive housing – Assistance with food, daily chores, trips to medical appointments, and social support create a foundation for continued health and a step toward independence.

$1,000

  • Gives 450 home cooked meals for hospice patients – When in hospice, there are often unique food needs. You can make sure that final days are spent with favorite, delicious meals that don’t upset someone’s stomach.
  • Pays for an outpatient procedure for an uninsured client – many with HIV/AIDS do not have insurance. You can cover the expenses related to a needed procedure.
  • Provides four months of medication - Medications can reduce the HIV virus so much that it keeps someone healthy and also reduces the risk of passing it along.

Resurgence of HIV in Austin and Nationwide

Since 2006, there has been a 40 percent increase in the number of HIV-positive people in the Greater Austin area — far outpacing the population boom. (In that same time, Houston’s diagnoses have risen by only 12 percent; Dallas has seen a 23 percent decline in new cases since 2003.)

The number of people who have been newly infected in our area is also on the rise. From 2010 to 2012, 815 people tested positive for HIV, with more than half receiving an additional diagnosis of AIDS, which is when a person’s CD4 cell count drops below 200. AIDS is fatal without treatment. However, HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence. The Ride's beneficiary agencies provide access to quality care and support to help people affected by HIV/AIDS to not only live, but thrive. 

While the disease is staging a dramatic comeback in Austin and other Texas communities, state and federal funding for healthcare services is down, increasing the need for community support and involvement. Over the past 25 years, the Hill Country Ride for AIDS has raised over $12 million for HIV and AIDS treatment and prevention.

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO COMBAT THESE INCREASING RATES IN A CLIMATE OF REDUCED FUNDING!

Donate Today! (Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law; the Hill Country Ride for AIDS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.)