By Richard Brodsky
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation will be sponsoring its 14th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run/Walk on June 6, 2021 in Baldwin Park, Long Island. Organizing these events during the Covid-19 pandemic is challenging, whereas living with HIV and brain cancer and running marathons are less challenging. At least with Covid-19, my wife and I got our Pfizer vaccines and we’re done. There have been no side effects and the odds of our getting Covid-19 are slim to none. Realistically, we will probably need booster shots.
I wish this newspaper could reach more rural areas, and that people would understand it is a civic responsibility to get vaccinated and the life they may be saving could be that of a close relative, a child, or a dear friend. Of course, you should consult with your doctor and listen to religious leaders, teachers, and medical professionals, and understand this is a public health crisis. For my wife and me, the best benefit was getting to hug our grandkids again. Since receiving my second vaccine, I ran my fastest marathon in 20 months. I feel I can now live again and run faster, not an easy feat at age 68. But if I can do it with two life-threatening illnesses, HIV and brain cancer, so can you.
My foundation’s mission has been modified during the Covid-19 pandemic; we are not just helping people living with HIV and cancer, but are also helping low-income families by providing food. More specifically, the food is donated to local schools and food pantries serving Wyandanch, Elmont, and Lawrence/Inwood, Long Island. I especially like helping the Five Towns Community Center because it helps families whose children attend Lawrence High School, the school I graduated from.
We are busy getting ready for the June 6th 5K AIDS Cancer Run/ Walk in Baldwin Park. Running has saved my life, so we never charge people living with HIV or cancer. Encouraging others to lead a healthy, upbeat lifestyle including running or walking can only help people living with illnesses. Write me at richardm.brodsky@gmail.com if you are interested in participating in the walk/run. Or, you can register at events.elitefeats.com/brodsky21. We are also trying to attract runners or walkers from all 50 states. The event has a live and virtual component, and event t-shirts and medals will be mailed to all finishers in the United States. Proceeds will be donated to local Long Island and Queens organizations helping people living with HIV and cancer. Donations can be made online and are greatly appreciated, https://www.grouprev.com/aidscancer21.
My foundation has also produced a video titled RACING to Take COVID-19 Vaccine. It can be viewed on my YouTube channel, worldaidsmarathon. Its purpose is to encourage, nudge, and/or reward others to get vaccinated. We all really need to do our parts to ensure that our children, health care workers, teachers, seniors, and all members of society are safe and can return to work and enjoy recreational and indoor/outdoor activities to the fullest. (It is especially sad to see the theater district closed.) Several board members and colleagues from diverse backgrounds have provided video clips in which they emphasize the urgent need for the U.S. to share the vaccine with Third World countries.
Due to Covid-19 we were not able to travel to Kenya to sponsor the 15th annual World AIDS Marathon in 2020. We did hold the event on the Rockaway Beach boardwalk on December 6th. It was very successful and we raised money to fund local charities including Research Foundation to Cure AIDS, other organizations in Queens and on Long Island, and dinner dances and medical care for Kenyan orphans. On December 5, 2021, https://www.elitefeats.com/ will be sponsoring the 2nd annual World AIDS Marathon, half marathon, and 10K on the Rockaway boardwalk. We will also be returning to Kenya, where the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation will be sponsoring its 15th annual World AIDS Marathon and providing meals and medical care to Kenyan orphans. Enjoy the video I produced, World AIDS Marathoners Love Affair with Kenya, and its trailer, which can be found on my YouTube channel worldaidsmarathon.
Richard Brodsky is 68 years young and was diagnosed HIV+ in 1997. Five years later he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He and his wife Jodi have been married for 41 years and have run 72 and 83 marathons respectively. The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation was established in 2004 and has donated over $550,000 in cash, toys, clothing, food, and medicine to orphans in Kenya and organizations helping people living with HIV and cancer in America. According to the internet, there are no other marathoners in the world who are living with HIV and brain cancer.
