By Steve Krutzler / 07:40, 5 April 2005 / People

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STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE may be signing off next month, but the spirit of the show lives on in a charity event being organized by the show's pre-production coordinator Juan Carlos Fernandez.

Fernandez will embark on his own "trek", riding in the June 5-11 AIDS/LifeCycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The ride seeks to raise money and awareness for the fight against AIDS. Traversing the 585 miles on bike, Fernandez will make the journey with other cyclists in seven days.

"Don't let the lack of lapel-pinned ribbons fool you: AIDS isn't over," Fernandez says. "Since 2001, the number of new HIV/AIDS cases annually have increased. Of the 40,000+ new HIV/AIDS cases this year in the U.S. alone, 50% of them will be people under 25 years old!"

ENTERPRISE's own second season episode "Stigma" reminded audiences of one of the many hurdles in defeating AIDS: public perception.

"It's time to stop thinking of AIDS as someone else's disease," Fernandez emphasizes. "It affects us all. If AIDS doesn't discriminate, why should we?"

The AIDS/LifeCycle ride benefits the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. Riders must raise $2,500 to enter the event and as part of his participation, Fernandez has enlisted the help of ENT's 'Doctor Phlox', John Billingsley.

"As part of my fundraising efforts, I have been busy arranging a charity event with the folks at Legendary Bingo in Los Angeles," Fernandez explains. "Legendary Bingo has been working with various fundraisers since April of 1998. Wednesday nights at Hamburger Mary's in West Hollywood is their current home, where they hold weekly charity bingo events to benefit local and national charities. Even more exciting... John Billingsley has volunteered to assist as a guest/celebrity ball caller at the event."

The bingo event will take place Wednesday, April 27th at 8:00pm at Hamburger Mary's West Hollywood, located at the SE corner of Sweetzer and Santa Monica Blvd (8288 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA). A $20 suggested donation at the door gets donors access to all the bingo games, which will include prize packs of Hollywood and STAR TREK memorabilia.

Every prize package will include at least one ENTERPRISE script signed by the writer, and the grand prize package will include a cast-signed script as well as four tickets to the STAR TREK EXPERIENCE at the Las Vegas Hilton (a $120 value). A second cast-signed script will also be auctioned off. In addition, other prizes will include television show memorabilia from STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, FAMILY GUY, LAW & ORDER: SVU, AMERICAN IDOL, and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, as well as DVDs, gym memberships and training sessions, and gift certificates.

Hamburger Mary's is a 21 and over venue. You can read more about Fernandez's AIDS/LifeCycle ride here.