AIDS Network provides critical HIV/AIDS education, prevention, and care services throughout South Central Wisconsin. Our philosophy of service is reflected in our mission statement: Together we are living with HIV/AIDS. Through a network of services and partnerships, AIDS Network provides support, education, and opportunities for well-being to everyone touched by HIV/AIDS.

Our Client Services team addresses the medical, emotional, legal, employment, and daily living needs commonly associated with HIV/AIDS. AIDS Network provides case management services to over 300 people living with HIV. Our Prevention team provides a wide range of programs for youth groups, community organizations, and other local groups to prevent the spread of HIV.

The purpose of ACT is to raise awareness, educate the community, teach tolerance, and provide a maximum return of funds to the AIDS Network. AIDS Network is planning and producing ACT almost entirely with volunteers.

Because the ride is volunteer-driven, we are striving to return a maximum of funds to the direct services provided by AIDS Network (keeping administrative and overhead costs as low as possible). While our hope is to return as much money as possible, there are many factors that will affect that total, such as number of riders and the amount of money that they raise.

Additionally, it is difficult to put a dollar value on all of the other benefits we expect ACT to generate. Because riders take on such a large commitment (raising $1200, training, and then riding over 300 miles in four days), the event generates a great deal of public awareness. As the ride ventures through small cities and towns throughout southwest and south central Wisconsin, riders will help educate the community, put a human face on this disease, spread the word that AIDS has no barriers, and remind people, in the words of Margaret Mead, “…that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”