Riders For Life

Motorcycle-riding celebrities joined forces with Kiehl's (New York-based purveyor of skin- and hair-care products) in the fight to find a cure for AIDS, and to raise awareness of this devastating disease, by riding up the California coast from San Diego to San Francisco August 2-7, culminating in the donation of $85,000 to amfAR, a leading organization dedicated to the support of HIV/AIDS research. The ride was led by Chris Salgardo, president of Kiehl's USA, and Alain de Cadenet, Le Mans racer and TV motorsports host, and included approximately 20 celebrity motorcycle enthusiasts.

The group made stops at Kiehl's stores along the route to present donations – a total of $60,000 over the course of the ride – to amfAR. Kiehl's also introduced a Limited Edition Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, which features a specially-designed motorcycle-and-flame motif, and donated up to $25,000 of the profits from the sale of this product to amfAR.   

Salgardo presented the $85,000 to Kevin Frost, CEO of amfAR, at the end of the ride. Kiehl's has already donated more than $1,000,000 for the cause.
"From our inception, it has been Kiehl's mission to always give back to the communities in which we do business," Salgardo said. "As a motorcycle rider, I'm personally delighted to lead the ride and truly grateful for the generosity of each LifeRide participant. It is an honor to spread amfAR's message throughout my home state."

Founded in 1985, amfAR is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research. It has invested more than $307 million in this mission and has awarded grants to more than 2000 research teams worldwide.

"Kiehl's has been a valuable and longtime supporter of amfAR's vital research work, and the funds raised through the Kiehl's LifeRide will bring us that much closer to finding a cure for HIV and AIDS," said Frost. "We're thrilled to be partnering with Kiehl's on such a unique event."

Event guests included riders Alain de Cadenet, Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff, Teddy Sears, Paul Cox, Jared Zaugg, and Josh Manning. Additional participants of the week's activities included riders William H. Macy, Fred Durst, Peter Coyote, and Tim Kang, and supporters such as Peter Fonda, Timothy White, Josh Homme, Cheyenne Jackson, Kristin Cavallari and musicians Plain White T's.

In addition to the stops at the Kiehl's stores, the riders enjoyed a special visit to Jay Leno's Garage, had a private tour of Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum, and had some private track time on the famed Laguna Seca Raceway.

BMW of North America provided the fleet of motorcycles and automobiles for the ride, and Kimpton Hotels, Atelier Ruby Helmets, Tom Ford Eyewear helped out with other needs.

To see a video of Salgardo and snippets from the LifeRide,  click here