In 2016, the 11th annual World AIDS Marathon was held again in Kisumu on World AIDS Day (December 1st). The Event was sponsored by the Richard M. Brodsky Foundationand organized by Athletics Kenya.
Start line of 2016 World AIDS Marathon
Paulina Ballaban and Maria Zimlis at the start of the marathon.
Throngs of well-wishers wished the marathon / half marathon / relay race finishers well
Runners and walkers at the start of the marathon
Banners and Kenyans celebrating World AIDS Day greeted the runners at the finish
As part of the World AIDS Day festivities, 623 people tested for the HIV-virus.
John Mulvey’s 3rd World AIDS Half Marathon. John has a way of making friends wherever he goes.
Richard & Jodi Brodsky after finishing the 26.2-mile World AIDS Marathon.
2016 World AIDS Marathon t-shirt
winner of the 2016 World AIDS Marathon is Daniel Manyara
Click on any photo to enlarge
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation sponsored four orphan dinner dances for 838 Kenyan orphans on November 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2016. 208 orphans were examined and treated at these festive dinners by Dr. Richard Sartori of Garden City Pediatrics and Paulina Ballaban, pediatric nurse practitioner. Mercy Abala served as a medical volunteer/translator to expedite the medical exams at the four orphan dinner dances.
75% of the kids had intestinal parasites. The cure is one chewable tablet and another tablet in two weeks
75% had malaria and the cure is a 3 day treatment; one or two pills a day depending on the age and weight of the child.
80% had skin lesions, tinea, which is a fungal rash. The rash is treated with a cream and the child is sent home with the cream and is instructed to apply the cream twice a day until the rash is gone.
less than 5% had asthma
The above percentages are based on Dr. Sartori's examining 208 children. That would equate to 156 children having parasites and 156 children having malaria, obviously some of the children had both malaria and parasites. Dr. Sartori said, 25% of the children having malaria would die without the lifesaving medicine we provided, while 20% of the children having parasites would die without the medicine they needed. If you do the math that equates to 52 children who would die without the medicine they need. Sadly, most of these children do not receive medical help during the year which is probably why, according to UNICEF, one child in 9 will die before their 5th birthday.
With your help, the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation is seeking to improve the quality of life of Kenyan children and substantially reduce the number of Kenyan children dying. You’re invited to dine and dance with the Kenyan orphans, get in a cage with a cheetah, and participate in the World AIDS Marathon by viewing the photos on this page. Please also consider donating using the link to the left.Registrants (non-Kenyans) who paid the $140 registration fee for the 2016 Kisumu, Kenya World AIDS Marathon dined and danced with Kenyan orphans at 4 orphan dinner dances which also included round trip transportation from Kisumu to the dinners. The November 27th dinner was held at Mama Sarah’s, President Obama’s grandmother’s home; the November 28th dinner was held in Amilo Village; the November 29th dinner was held in Masara; and the November 30th dinner was held at Kisumu Museum.
November 25, 2016… a visit to the Nairobi Game Preserve, and a three-hour safari, sighting a giraffe (photo right)
November 25, 2016… you must be quick with your camera or you will get a portion of your thumb in the photo
November 25, 2016… elephants cuddling at elephant orphanage, these elephants have had their ivory tusks stolen, so please don’t buy ivory souvenirs as the demand for ivory must cease.
November 26, 2016… Richard Sartori, Mercy Abala, and Richard Brodsky in cage with two cheetahs. We were told we could only pet the female cheetah, Alice, because the male cheetah Festus has more aggressive traits.
A day at Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, top left to bottom right: Joan, Richard (looking in awe at the anatomy of how a thin tall neck of a giraffe can carry the weight of its cantilevered head), Jodi, Mercy and Paulina… OSTRICH… crazy companions of mine as several of them were about to board a shanty and explore Lake Victoria. I tried it one year and got seasick and then was told it could be dangerous as a hippo could turn the shanty upside down… ZEBRAS, just don’t get within three feet or you’ll get whacked by its tail.
Ostrich
zebras
The Team
November 27, 2016… The 2nd annual orphan dinner dance was organized by Mama Sarah, President Obama’s grandmother, at her home in Kogelo Village. 60 orphans dined and danced and 43 orphans were examined and treated by Dr. Richard Sartori and Paulina Ballaban (pediatric nurse practitioner), in conjunction with medical volunteer/translator Mercy Abala
Mama Sara With Visitors
Dr. Sartori & med. volunteer/translator Mercy Paulina Ballaban examining an orphan
Eating Scrumptious Food
Dancing with some high school students that Mama Sarah provides education for Paulina, Dr. Sartori & Mercy exam orphan
November 28, 2016… The 4th annual orphan dinner dance was organized by Beldina Opiyo-Omolo of Alice Visionary Foundation Project. 328 orphans dined and danced and 58 orphans were examined and treated by Dr. Richard Sartori, Paulina Ballaban (pediatric nurse practitioner), in conjunction with medical volunteer/translator Mercy Abala + another 25 were pre-examined by a team of Kenyan doctors and nurses. It all started back in 2004 when Beldina donated $10 to the first ever World AIDS Marathon in Mbita, Kenya. Since 2013 the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation has sponsored four orphan dinner dances for 1,493 Kenyan orphans for Beldina’s organization.
The gang’s all here except Joan, pictured below are John, Maria, Richard, Richard, Paulina and Mercy
dancing
Paulina examining an orphan and Dr. Richard Sartori & Mercy in the background
Paulina and Maria clowning around
November 29, 2016… It always feels like home to be greeted and hugged by Dr. Bonyo, head of Bonyo’s Kenya Mission. 300 orphans dined and danced at Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Center in Masara, Kenya. 60 orphans were examined and treated by Dr. Bonyo and his medical team from America and Kenya. Dr. Bonyo’s clinic is world renowned for his charitable caring for Kenyan children and expectant moms.
Left to right (Dr. Sartori, Joan, Mercy, Jodi & Richard, John and Paulina)
For situations which neither Dr. Bonyo or the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation had any control over we did not get to have an orphan dinner dance at Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Clinic in 2015
I needed that hug and besides feeding the children and their being examined by Dr. Bonyo’s team of doctors, we partied like there was no tomorrow, especially Dr. Bonyo and Dr. Sartori
Dr. Bonyo, Jodi & Richard and Dr. Sartori
Dr. Bonyo has more fun than anyone
There is no one I would rather being dining with than with these Kenyan orphans.
Dr. Richard Sartori, a volunteer, Mercy & her mom, Jodi & Richard, Joan and Paulina
The children are in awe of Maria Zimlis’s cell phone with photos from the orphan dinner dances and America
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation would like to think of itself as a mini-mini Doctors Without Borders. Not only do the doctors get to examine the orphans, they get to dine and dance with them plus run with the Kenyan on World AIDS Day
party time at Bonyo’s Kenya Mission
No one is having more fun than Jodi
Dr. Bonyo seated in foreground with his team of doctors from America and Kenya.
Jodi and her new pals
November 30, 2016… The 4th annual orphan dinner dance was organized by Oron Isaac of Belfon Foundation. 150 orphans dined and danced and 58 orphans were examined and treated by Dr. Richard Sartori, Paulina Ballaban (pediatric nurse practitioner),in conjunction with medical volunteer/translator Mercy Abala. Every year since 2011, Dr. Sartori has chosen to donate his time or as he says, 'we can't change the world but we certainly can make a dent.
Oron and his wife Heidi
Jodi and her new friends
Jodi and Mercy dancing with the orphans
piping hot, the food tastes even better than it looks
Paulina Ballaban examining an orphan
Dr. Richard Sartori and Paulina Ballaban
Dr. Sartori, Paulina and Mercy
Dr. Richard Sartori, Mercy and Jodi in the background
December 1, 2016… Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground, 8 am. World AIDS Day… 300 participants including 13 disabled runners registered for the World AIDS Marathon, half marathon and relay races.
You can view a full set of the 2016 WAM Race Results. The winners of the marathon and half marathon are as follows:
For me, Richard Brodsky, it was not the PR I had hoped for, but I did promise to run my hardest for people living with HIV and cancer. I still believe that people, even people living with HIV and cancer can reverse their aging process if they lead a healthy lifestyle and have access to doctors and medicine. Sadly, this is not possible in Africa as there is too much malaria, tuberculosis, poverty and a lack of doctors and medicine, clean drinking water and an adequate supply of nutritious food. The Many Faces of Kenya and how the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation promises to help Kenyans not just on World AIDS Day and the four days leading up to the World AIDS Marathon
In the past 4 months the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation has donated $3,000 in new clothes to organizations helping orphans.
Must I Say Good Bye
Painting at a Local Market
Many Faces of Kenya
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Dr. Richard Sartori is AMERICA'S HERO OF THE YEAR for 2016 due to his commitment to improving and saving the lives of Kenyan orphans.
AMERICA'S CO-HERO OF THE YEAR for 2016 is Jodi Brodsky for being a woman whose commitment to helping the orphans of Kenya is unmatched and her kindness and caring towards everyone he meets.
