In 2023, the 25tb anniversary of this annual event. 300 cyclists and 100 support crew made the 6 day, 600 km journey from Toronto to Montreal. We raised $1.8 million dollars for three PLHIV (People Living with HIV/AIDS) service organisations.
I'm very proud to share that $1.07 million went directly to providing access to food, treatment, income, therapeutic and immigration supports for 2,773 community members.
Of that number, 39% are immigrants, most as refugees from Carribean, African and South American countries where laws do not protect the basic human rights of a person with living with HIV. Of the 4,173 immigration services accessed in 2022, I'm very grateful to have been able to offer my professional assistance on 400 occasions to aid my fellow human beings navigate their way towards a new life.
These numbers are only growing and your contribution makes a very real difference in the lives of people who, just like those casualties from the early years of the AIDS epidemic, without the opportunities offered in Canada, would meet the same end.