The SMART Ride 7 Raises Close to $500,000 to Benefit South Florida AIDS Charities
Online, November 23, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The SMART Ride, a series of publicly sponsored events designed to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS community in South Florida, completed its final fundraiser for 2010 this past weekend, raising $468,220. The multi-event fundraiser launched culminated with the 165-mile bike ride from Miami to Key West this past weekend.
One hundred percent of all proceeds will go to benefit six HIV/AIDS charities in Florida. The beneficiaries of the fundraiser are Broward House, Metropolitan Charities, Center for Positive Connections, AIDS Help, Miracle of Love, and Comprehensive AIDS Program.
"We are extremely pleased by the amount of funds raised for critical AIDS charities in South Florida through this year's SMART Ride participants," said David Spacht, the Director of The SMART Ride. "Without the hard work of sponsors like the GeoVax team, we would not be able to help these organizations execute the services that are so vital to our community."
GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTCQB/OTC Bulletin Board: GOVX), an Atlanta, GA-based biotechnology company that creates, develops and tests innovative HIV/AIDS vaccines, was a key sponsor of the fundraiser and helped Team 995 to rank 6th in overall funds raised. The company's preventative HIV vaccine has completed Phase 1 clinical trials in humans and is currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial being conducted and funded by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Based on current enrollment rates, the company expects the trial to end in 2011. Enrollment has also begun for a Phase 1 clinical trial testing the company's therapeutic vaccine candidate.
On November 19, beginning at 5:00 am, the SMART Ride Team 995 began bicycling, along with over 1,000 other riders and volunteers, completing their 165-mile ride on Saturday from Miami to Key West. For more information and details about the bicycle ride, please visit www.TheSmartRide.org.
About The SMART Ride
The SMART ride (Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride Twenty-Ten) was born out of a dream to make a real and significant difference in the lives of those infected, affected and at risk for HIV/AIDS.
SMART Ride 1 began as a dream to create a bicycle event where 100% of pledges raised could go back to the communities to be used for direct services. That was more than seven years ago, and thus far $2.2 million dollars have been raised. 100% has been given back to the communities they serve to assist with direct services for individuals infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.
About GeoVax Labs, Inc.
GeoVax is a biotechnology company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus - that leads to AIDS) and other infectious agents. Our goals include developing HIV/AIDS vaccines for global markets, overseeing the manufacture and testing these vaccines under GMP/GLP conditions (FDA guidelines), conducting clinical trials for vaccine safety and effectiveness, and obtaining regulatory approvals to move the product forward. All preventative Phase 1 human clinical trials conducted to date tested various combinations and doses of our DNA and MVA vaccines, their ability to raise anti-HIV humoral (antibody) and cellular (cytotoxic T cell) immune responses, as well as, the vaccines' safety. Successful results from Phase 1 testing supported the initiation of the first Phase 2 testing. GeoVax's Phase 2 human trial began in January 2009 and will ultimately involve 300 participants at sites in the United States and South America. Recently GeoVax began enrolling patients in a Phase 1 therapeutic trial for individuals already infected with HIV. For more information, please visit www.geovax.com.
