During the first weekend in October, I’ll be riding my bicycle, The Blue Streak, from Philadelphia to NYC again for BRAKING AIDS^® Ride 2026 in support of Housing Works.

I will ride this year, as always, in memory of family friends Dennis and Curtis, who both died of AIDS in 1987 and 2003, respectively, and also in honor of my many loved ones who live with HIV and the countless HIV/AIDS activists who continue to make the world a better place. For a snapshot of why I have been doing this ride for nearly 20 years, check out this short video from a few years ago.

What’s different this year? I’m committed to raising more money—because Housing Works has been doing more. And Housing Works continues to step up and do more because it’s necessary.

Last year, thanks to over 180 steadfast, kind souls, I raised nearly $29,000—and as a bonus, I can say that I’ve raised $310,000+ since my first AIDS ride. This year, I’m committed to increasing my fundraising goal to $32,000. 

Donations of all sizes are welcome, but a gift of $200 or more will go a long way toward reaching my $32K goal and enabling Housing Works to do more of the amazing work they do.

If $200 is a financial reach this year, it’s okay: Believe me, I get it. Many of you are aware how challenging the last 17 months and counting have been for our household. What I’d ask instead is that:

1) you give whatever you can and then

2) share this with one to three loved ones, friends, colleagues, etc.—asking them to make up the difference.

Every donation helps, and we’re all in these many, many fights to do what’s right together.

We live in TL;DR times, so here’s the donation link to help me get to that $32,000 goal:

give.housingworks.org/Mika2026

For more on what Housing Works has been up to this past year, read on below.

How Housing Works is Doing More

Fighting to save PEPFAR. Housing Works continues to fight to restore PEPFAR funding, which focuses on expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care interventions. Launched in 2003, PEPFAR (U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which reflects the largest commitment by any nation in the world to address a single disease, has saved an estimated 26 million lives and changed the trajectory of the global HIV epidemic. In 2024 alone, PEPFAR supported 67 million people receiving testing and counseling, including pregnant women and young children. Predictably, the PEPFAR cuts by the current administration have had a devasting and lethal effect. During the first half of 2025, across nine countries, 3.4 million fewer people were tested for HIV.  And in the last year alone, the dismantling of PEPFAR has resulted in the closure of approximately 1,700 HIV service sites worldwide, the loss of more than 16,000 jobs, reductions in critical HIV services, and significant harm to global public health. In the year and a half since these PEPFAR cuts began, Housing Works has worked tirelessly with partners, both publicly and behind the scenes, to call attention to these cuts, restore PEPFAR funding, and hold DC decision makers accountable. Your support will help Housing Works fight until every dollar is restored.

World AIDS Day 2025 in DC. Housing Works protested in front of the White House lawn, displaying bright red banners that showing the number of lives that will be lost around the world as the Trump administration decreases HIV/AIDS funding.

Protecting housing and health care, locally, regionally, and nationally. In the last year, Housing Works has mobilized across New York City, Albany, and Washington, DC, with more than 80 protests, civil disobediences, rallies, and press conferences—direct boots-on-the-ground action that has helped protect housing and health care services. The unrestricted funds raised by BRAKING AIDS^® Ride have helped preserve $90 million in the state matching fund for public health programs and saved $100,000 in funding for community health centers from state budget cuts. In New York City, Housing Works restored more than $5 million for HIV programs like The Undetectables, the signature health initiative that empowers people living with HIV to achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load—and boasts an impressive 92% success rate. 

Continuing comprehensive lifesaving services to those living with HIV/AIDS. The above advocacy efforts are in addition to the crucial services and programs Housing Works provides to its clients every single day: HIV testing, diagnosis, and treatment services, affordable housing, health care (HIV-specific services as well as primary care, dental, and mental health), job training, free legal help, substance use treatment, and more.

As I have said before, Housing Works has shown up for what’s right since its 1990 founding—and I trust them to show up for all the important fights ahead.

Please donate to BRAKING AIDS 2026 today!