Paying tribute to Rock Hudson, Doris Day provided inspiration to AIDS LifeCycle riders last weekend

Doris Day and Rock Hudson will be forever linked by the series of popular romantic comedies they starred in together including Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers.

Miss Day, now 88, was with Hudson in 1985 when he made his final public appearance for the launch of her television show Doris Day’s Best Friends. He was gaunt and clearly ill with AIDS but didn’t want to let Doris down.

With Hudson on her mind, Miss Day surprised the nearly 3,000 AIDS LifeCycle riders and volunteers on Friday night when she sent a personal message that was read to the group during a candlelight vigil on the last night of their ride.

‘I just want to take a moment to personally thank you all for riding all those miles, and tonight for honoring those lost to AIDS, including my dear, dear friend Rock Hudson,’ she wrote. ‘It has been over 30 years since AIDS first emerged.  And that means almost 30 years since Rock was diagnosed.  It was so hard to see him taken from all of us just a little over a year later.’

‘I know many of you there have also experienced similar loss to mine,’ she added. ‘What you’re doing is so important, both to remember those gone and also to ensure those alive keep living much longer than Rock was able to.  So keep pedaling.’

Below is video of Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Executive Director Lorri L. Jean, reading the letter at the candlelight vigil as well as a video recapping the 7-day ride which raised more than $12 million.