Seven days. 545 miles. $16.1 million raised to change the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS. And one incredible, unforgettable experience.

At least that's what the 13 Salesforce employees who participated in the AIDS/LifeCycle 2016 event thought. Last month we joined nearly 2,400 riders pedaling from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a week-long bike ride to raise funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS. And along the way, we filled our seven days of Volunteer Time Off with enough memorable moments to last us a lifetime.

Our team biked through lush vineyards and rolling countrysides, took on soaring temperatures and unseasonable rain, and got to know one another and how we or people we know have been affected by HIV/AIDS. One of the most moving aspects of the event was seeing how much our ride impacts people who live in the communities along our route. One elderly woman in a small town watches every year in honor of her son, ashamed that decades ago she turned her back on him after he had been diagnosed with, and later died from, AIDS. Now, seeing the riders pass her house, she is comforted by the notion that her son might have known a loving, supportive community. Her story, and many more like it, remind us what we are riding for.

By the end of the week, Salesforce employees collectively raised over $90,000 in the fight to end HIV/AIDS. We’re so honored to have contributed to the $16.1 million total raised to help benefit the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. A big hand to my fellow Ohana members who took on the challenge with me: Michael Baehr, Denise Bellotti, Karen Curley, John Darden, Karl Huntzicker, Jeff Raynor, Justin Royal, Dane Skidmore, Christina Smith, Daniel Sonnenfeld, Eric Stahl, and Stuart Wellman.

Although this year’s ride is over, we’re still pushing ahead to make a difference for this important cause. Learn more about the cause and make a donation here.