Downey's Benjamin Gutierrez bicycling from San Francisco to L.A.

DOWNEY – Downey resident and Warren High alumni Benjamin Gutierrez is currently training to join 3,000 cyclists in a 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles starting May 31 and concluding June 6. The ride's goal is to raise money to help fight HIV and AIDS through education and healthcare.

After graduating from Warren High School in 2006, Gutierrez graduated from USC in 2010 in Public Relations and Business Marketing. Currently he is working in sales and marketing for Expedia Inc., the world’s largest online travel agency.

“I am doing this ride because there are so many people in this world that do not have their health to do it themselves. This deadly disease affects so many people in Los Angeles, especially our Latino community,” said Gutierrez.

Gutierrez is no stranger to challenges as he recently completed the Long Beach Marathon, Huntington Beach Half Marathon and the OC Marathon.

“I do these challenges to show my family they can do anything they set their mind to and if you can do something great for a great cause, why not?” he said.

In California alone there are 151,000 people living with HIV. Nationally, 70 percent of all new infections occur in communities of color and people under the age of 25 are increasingly affected.

In the United States, Latinos account for 17% of new infections yet comprise 15% of the U.S. population, while whites represent 35% of new infections and account for 66% of the total population.

To support Gutierrez's ride, make a donation on his personal page: tofighthiv.org/goto/BenGutz