Flags off the 2009 & 2010 World AIDS Marathon, KISUMU, KENYA
World AIDS Day, December 1, 2011, Thursday, 6:30 AM. Ready, set, go; The runners are off for the start of the 2011 World AIDS Marathon. We pray for Mama Sarah's continued good health that she may once again grace the runner's by dropping the Kenyan flag signifying the start of the 2011 World AIDS Marathon, half marathon and relay races. Runners may pick up their running bibs at the Duke of Breeze Hotel in Kisumu between the hours of 2 – 8 PM on November 30. They can then get their t-shirt by presenting their bib at the start (arrive by 6 AM). The running Events will start and finish at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Stadium. At 6:30 AM, December 1, the children's walk will start from Kondele Sportsground and they will be escorted by a prison band. For those who cannot walk that far (5km) they will leave from the General Hospital and join the procession until they reach the finish. For Kenyans wishing to participate in the running or walking Events, more info is available by visiting www.worldaidsmarathon.org.
The 2011 World AIDS Marathon will be joined by Kenya’s National AIDS Control Program's National World AIDS Day celebrations. There will be several VIP's mostly politicians including the prime minister.
As the children enter Jomo Kenyatta Sports Stadium from one end of the stadium accompanied by parade floats, the runners are entering the other end of the stadium. For one day only, you are an Olympiad and the crowd is cheering enthusiastically as you are about to claim your first GOLD medal!
Welcome
I am Richard Brodsky and welcome to the World AIDS Marathon website. As you will notice, this website is about much more than just a marathon; it is about changing and saving lives.
The marathon came about because people were inspired by my story. I am both HIV-positive and a brain cancer survivor. Prior to that, I was a successful New York architect, marathon runner, and happily married with three daughters. Today, some fourteen years later, thanks to my medication and a positive attitude, my family and I are still doing very well. (For further details, see my biography; for full details, you can read my book.)
I recovered from my brain cancer treatment in time to run the 2003 New York City marathon, when it occurred to me that people with HIV/AIDS around the world could and should enjoy the same quality of life that I do. Thus, the 2004 World AIDS Marathon was born. Mbita, Kenya, an island in Lake Victoria was the selected location for the first World AIDS Marathon. Mbita has a very high AIDS infection rate and the island people welcomed my wife, Jodi, and me, a bit cautiously. Here I was, an HIV-positive man being embraced by my HIV-negative wife. Jodi and I were determined to help eliminate the stigma that is associated with AIDS. Thanks to the media attention from my book, Jodi: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told, people from around the world joined me to help stage that ambitious project.
Money was raised for a 50-bed orphanage in Nakuru, Kenya. However,
the full impact of the marathon was never realized until March 28, 2006
when the World Health Organization issued a report stating
that Kenya was only one of two African countries
which had a declining rate for new HIV cases
from December 2003 – December 2005.
For 2005, we had set our sights even higher. Besides having another World AIDS Marathon, the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation sponsored an AIDS / Cancer Conference titled SURVIVING & THRIVING, as well as a 5K fun walk.
The 2005 World AIDS Marathon was held in Gainesville, Florida. You may not be familiar with the city, but you probably have heard of Gatorade®. That familiar drink was discovered in Gainesville, at the University of Florida. The University of Florida is one of the largest research institutions in the country. It is the birthplace of Gatorade, the FIV vaccine (also known as the Feline AIDS Vaccine), and a variety of other discoveries. Wouldn't it be fantastic if it were the birthplace of the cure for HIV? The same researchers who discovered the FIV vaccine are now applying their knowledge to finding an HIV/AIDS vaccine or cure. With your help, it might just happen.
Recognizing that a 2006 World AIDS Marathon was not a sure thing, my wife and I had made a commitment to run one marathon per month for 2006 to raise awareness that 4,900 people do not have to die from AIDS every day. It is absolutely essential for HIV-positive people to have access to the AIDS medicine and to lead a healthy lifestyle, and in so doing we can substantially reduce the number of deaths from AIDS until a cure or vaccine is discovered. AWARENESS, to the Soccer Moms in
America, as well as all parents: How can we continue to hug our children good night and take comfort with our lives while there are 14,800,000 orphans living in sub-Saharan
Africawho have lost one or both parents to AIDS?
For my 2006 schedule of completed marathons, please visit “2006 Marathons” (with photos). Sadly, I took a bad fall during the August marathon and I broke my collarbone. I’ve come to realize that I’m not indestructible as I also took a bad fall during a run in 2005 and required 12 stitches near my eye. Back to the present, I did complete the November 2006 NYC Marathon and then completed the
December 1, 2006Kisumu World AIDS Marathon. To any marathon organizer who would like to invite Jodi and me to participate in their marathon for 2007, let me say THANK YOU. I figure it will take me 110,000 steps as I am a little timid these days about my running as my balance is off a bit. With a steady hand, it will take you only one broad stroke of a pen to write a check to help support my foundation’s work… I’ll do my part, please do your part and donate generously.
The 2006 through 2010 World AIDS Marathons were held in
Kisumu,
Kenya. Even though we did not have a major sponsor, the foundation’s board members and I realized that we had no choice; we had to have a 2006 and a 2007 World AIDS Marathon. Too much was at stake not to have the marathon. Dollars versus saving lives; saving lives would prevail. The Foundation managed to sponsor these World AIDS Marathons with the help of the Kisumu World AIDS Marathon Group, as well as tremendous support from the local community. For more information about the marathon, our sponsors and friends, and related events please visit the web links on this page. The support for the 2009 World AIDS Marathon and its related Events were attended by over 1,900 people.
• 400+ people including 29 wheelchair athletes participated in the Marathon & Half-Marathon
• 870+ orphans and caretakers were fed at three orphan dinner dances.
• 150+ children participated in the Children’s Walk
• 160+ people tested for the AIDS virus
• 315+ volunteeers lined the marathon course providing first aid, water and traffic control
For 2011, the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation is seeking runners and sponsors for a World AIDS Marathon. Other events will include a half-marathon and a 5K childrens’ walk plus an afternoon of entertainment at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Stadium after the marathon. The two evenings before, there will be dinners held for 600 orphans. The first 100 foreign runners who sign up via the active.com link are invited to dine and be entertained by the orphans. Round trip Transportation will be provided from the Duke of Breeze Hotel in Kisumu. To sign up for the marathon or to make a donation, click on the links on the left side of the page.
From experience, I can say that without major sponsors, marathons can raise a great deal of AIDS Awareness. However, they will not raise money. If you or your company, i.e., a life insurance company, a TV network, a pharmaceutical company, or a running gear company would realize the benefits you or your company could reap, both from a financial and humanitarian standpoint, by sponsoring a 2011 World AIDS Marathon, please contact me. Rock stars, celebrities and ballplayers making salaries they never dreamed they would make… well, here is a chance for you to give something back. My dream, my dream is to participate in a World AIDS Marathon alongside people from all nations who have been afflicted with HIV or cancer.
Agencies promoting tourism and commerce in Africa, companies that are interested in promoting the sport of running, and to anyone who wants to make the world a better place, please contribute generously.
