The Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service is organising the ride which will go from its Dapto to its Wollongong offices, stopping at Hill 60 and Wollongong lighthouse.

IAMS sexual health promotions worker Jessica Rees said indigenous and non-indigenous riders would take part in the procession.

‘’It is an opportunity for people in the community to unite in the fight against AIDS,’’ she said. ‘’It’s also a way for people to show their support for people living with AIDS, to commemorate those who have died and to stop the stigma.’’

An art exhibition will also be launched in Wollongong mall to mark the day.

Artworks will be showcased on the tree barriers through the mall and at Wollongong Youth Services until December 14.

Artist Nina Kourea worked with students from TAFE Illawarra’s adult migrant English program youth group to create the artworks to help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

‘’It was a pleasure teaching this group of young people,’’ Ms Kourea.

‘’I decided to focus on what happens in their lives on a daily basis to give people a glimpse into their worlds to represent the fact that people with HIV and AIDS come from all different backgrounds.

‘’So we asked the students to take part in a ‘day in a life’ project. They were all very keen and eager students and it was a joy to teach them.

‘’I learnt a lot about them and their backgrounds and we got to share some great stories.’’

Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra spokesman Anthony Scerri applauded the project.

‘’The young people who come from many different backgrounds and don’t even speak the same language have come together to create these insightful photographs,’’ he said.

ACON, NSW’s leading HIV prevention and support organisation, is calling on people to mark World AIDS Day this year by joining in efforts to end HIV transmission in NSW by the end of the decade.

ACON President Dr Justin Koonin says recent advances in HIV treatments and testing technologies have now made it possible to virtually eliminate HIV transmission in NSW by 2020.

‘’In NSW, gay men are the population most at risk of HIV transmission, accounting for over three-quarters of new HIV diagnoses. To reach our goal of ending HIV transmission by 2020, we still need even more gay men to get tested, treat early and stay safe," Dr Koonin says.

Dr Koonin is urging NSW residents to help raise funds for programs and services that are vital to ending the HIV epidemic by donating to ACON's Ending HIV Red Ribbon Appeal.

ACON volunteers will be out in Sydney and other locations including Wollongong on World AIDS Day selling Red Ribbon merchandise.