First time Crew info

SMART Ride (Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride Twenty-twenty)

Welcome to the SMART Ride first time Crew page. Below you will find information to help you on your journey with us. Being part of our crew is vital to the success of the ride. Over 250 volunteer crew help us support the riders on their journey from Miami to Key West. We are also here to answer any other questions you may have. You can always email our Crew Chief Marcia at Marcia@theSMARTride.org.

Why the SMART Ride matters

Each year, more than 750 people from across the nation and world come together. Over the course of 2 days, they make an epic 165-mile journey from Miami to Key West. Over the past 16 years, the SMART Ride has given back $11.9 million for critical HIV/AIDS services provided by our 6 benefiting agencies throughout Florida.

Below are some of the services they provide:

Pharmaceutical Care
Residential Assistance
Psycho-Social Services
Dental Care
Holistic Care
Housing
Medical Care
Prenatal and Child Care
Prevention & Education

Register for Event

Start by registering for SMART Ride at https://thesmartride.org/register-sr17/. You will be asked what crew you would like to join or no preference. Check out our page with most of our crew positions before you start to register. If you are not sure, just select “No Preference” and will work with you to find the best opportunity. https://thesmartride.org/participating/crew/

Selecting a crew position

We have about 250 crew that help us along with the 2-day event. We have so many different opportunities available. For a listing of most of our crew positions, go to https://thesmartride.org/participating/crew/

What registration fee covers

The registration fee covers your overnight housing at Hawks Cay, all meals and snacks starting Thursday Night through lunch on Saturday afternoon at Key West High School.

What is the 100% give back guarantee?

100% of what you raise goes to AIDS Service Organizations in Florida GUARANTEED. You will make a significant difference in the lives of those at risk, infected and affected by HIV/AIDS

You have a degree of control over how your money is distributed:
90% of your funds are divided as follows: 50% is divided amongst all the benefiting agencies; 50% you decide how much and to which agency(s) your money goes (choosing from the agencies benefiting). The remaining 10% goes to the Lifeline (added in 2012 to help your impact go even further):
10% of all your funds are put into a pool, 100% of which is given out. This money is earmarked principally for additional agencies around the state that have needs that are currently not being met through other funding sources. To date over $600,000 has been awarded to additional agencies working with HIV and AIDS.

Fundraising

While fundraising for Crew members is not required, we strongly encourage you to help us by raising funds for our beneficiaries. The crew makes up about 20% of the funds raised each year. We ask if you could share your fundraising page with friends and family or create a Facebook fundraiser. Check out our tips on the fundraising page: https://thesmartride.org/fundraising-pull/

Each crew member (support team) is asked to raise as much as possible, but it is not a requirement. We just ask the crew to remember every dollar collected does make a difference to someone needing HIV/AIDS services.

You will be surprised how individuals respond to you when you tell them what you are doing and that you need their “help” in achieving your goal. The most popular fundraising techniques that our riders use is:

Send an Email/letter to family & friends (remember you might have to ask a few times for the procrastinators)
Raise funds as part of a team
Use social media like Facebook and Twitter to let your friends know
Throw a party, be creative and have fun and people will give
Partner with a local business to do a raffle or outreach event
See if your company has a corporate match for charity events
Work with a local benefiting agency for opportunities to raise funds

You just need a plan, enthusiasm, passion and never forgetting why you got involved, and never forgetting the memory of those who have passed from HIV/AIDS If you have specific questions about how to raise your pledges, you can work with the local agency, send a note to us an email at Marcia@theSMARTride.org , or chat with the Crew Manager that is assigned to you.

Transportation

Housing Before and After Event

Our housing sponsor Delmay and Partners can help you book your hotel stay in Miami and Key West. They work with local hotel chains and lock in special pricing just for the ride. If you do not see a hotel that you like, contact them and they can help you with the accommodations you are looking for.

(866) 848-5509 info@delmayandpartners.com

Orientation Day

All riders and crew are REQUIRED to attend orientation day on Thursday the week of the ride. Orientation day is from 12-8 PM on Thursday before the event at the University of Miami Student Center you will go through check-in stations for Medical, Safety, Housing, and Finance. Opening/Dedication Ceremony 5:30 PM at the Lakeside Patio Stage at the University of Miami. Dinner provided, following ceremonies by Olive Garden at 6:30 PM.

During the Event

Housing at Hawks Cay

Your overnight stay at Hawks Cay end of day 1 is included in the registration fee. You will be sharing a room/bed with other crew members or cyclists. In August we open our housing section of the website. This is the opportunity to select who you share your room with. If you prefer to have a private room, our housing partner Delmay and Partner can help you purchase that upgrade. If you have friends or family that would like to stay with you and they are not registered for the event, you can add them to your room for an additional cost. Delmay and Partners can help you with this option as well.

Day 2 of the event

As the riders depart on the final 65 miles, the crew makes sure they have all the support they need to complete the journey. As your crew position finishes, you will make your way to Key West High School for lunch and all of the riders arrive. At 2 PM, the riders take to their bikes one last time and make their way through historic Key West towards Truman Waterfront Pier for closing ceremonies.

Key West High School

Key West High School is our gathering place of all the crew and riders before heading to closing ceremonies at the pier. We will be serving lunch, selling merchandise and to register for SMART Ride the following year.

Closing Ceremonies

Our closing ceremonies is are our time to celebrate all the hard work and funds we have raised. The closing ceremonies are held in a beautiful pier on the water (check schedule of events for location). As the riders will be finishing their bike parade, the crew will be waiting on the pier to welcome them. We will announce the final amount that was raised for the ride.

What is there to do after the event ends?

We will have an after-party at the world-famous Bourbon Street Bar on Duval Street. Be sure to check our schedule of events for times, locations and more events including Sunday excursions.

How do I get back to U of M?

Transportation will be provided once again by Delmay and Partners. See the information below. To secure a spot, please complete the form and payment information at this link.

Bus Information:

Departs, Sunday, November 22nd, 2020.
Arrive at Key West High School by 9 am.
The bus departs at 10 am sharp and cannot wait for any latecomers.
The cost is $65 per person.
After submitting the form at the link provided, you will receive confirmation from Delmay and Partners that the form was successfully received and processed. If you have questions you can call Delmay and Partners at 954-744-8396.