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The Center in Asbury Park will hold its inaugural AIDS Bike Ride Saturday.

With a start and finish at the Main Street located nonprofit, participants of all ages will coast 25 miles through Asbury Park, Loch Arbour, Allenhurst, Deal, Long Branch, Monmouth Beach, and Oceanport. Support And Gear [SAG] vehicles will accompany and assist the riders and crew while on the route.

Established in 1992 to support the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS throughout Monmouth County, the Center’s first annual ride is a fundraising endeavor in support of its programs and services.

The all volunteer organization provides housing programs, including a permanent home for 25 people at its facility; emergency placements for homeless clients; as well as rental and utility subsidies to prevent homelessness.

Its nutritional programs include an emergency food pantry, meals to go and frozen home cooked fare,  a daily lunch program and monthly Sunday dinners. The Center also provides transportation and conducts educational lectures and forums.

With a goal of raising $20,000, a Crowd Ride campaign has been established, reaching 73 percent of its goal as of Monday afternoon. Monetary donations can be made in support of a rider, who each have a target fundraising minimum of $100.

The Center is also holding a separate fundraising drive in each riders name by using a direct marketing campaign to its 3,500 constituents via e-mail blast through its website, The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce and The Belmar Chamber of Commerce.

Center AIDS Bike Ride donations will be accepted through Oct. 17. The Center is located at 806 Third Ave. For more information about the fundraising endeavor and/or The Center, visit their website here. Fro registration forms, click here; for rider pledge forms click here; and for sponsorship opportunities click here.

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The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

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