The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation sponsored its 14th annual World AIDS Marathon in Kisumu, Kenya on World AIDS Day, organized by ATHLETICS KENYA, Joseph Ochieng. I am pleased to say that at age 67, I ran 5 marathons in 2019 including my 67th marathon in Kisumu, Kenya on World AIDS Day, danced & partied with Kenyan orphans & caretakers, and recruited teams of doctors from America and Kenya to provide medical care, oftentimes lifesaving, for Kenyan orphans. My job is to offer hope to people living with HIV and brain cancer that they can lead healthy productive lives if they have access to medical care, medicine, and lead an upbeat, healthy lifestyle. According to the Internet there are no other marathon runners who run marathons and are living with HIV and brain cancer. I can only be successful in helping others with your help.
World AIDS Marathon, half marathon and relay run
Congratulations to 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners for the men's marathon + half marathon and women's marathon + half marathon in respective time of:
1, George Achuka 2:21:07
2. Dismat Ewet 2:21:42
3. Cleophas Cheruoti 2:22:01
1. Peter Bomo 1:08:05
2. William Cheboi 1:08:27
3. William Koech 1:08:37
1. Nancy Kerage 2:54:38
2. Sally Cheptoo 2:56:28
3. Jemutai Leting 3:07:52
1. Rebecca Chesang 1:18:03
2. Hilda Chesire 1:18:54
3. Lornah Nyaboke 1:19:08
For full results of marathon, half marathon and 5K relay, click here. There were no childrens circuit runs this year but they will be back in 2020.
Thank you Eunice Owini, JIU PACHI CBO CEO, pictured 4th from left for assisting at World AIDS Marathon + organizing December 2 orphan dinner dance at JIU PACHI CBO.
Kevin Momanyi, board member of Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, in foreground, organized 40 volunteers from JIU PACHI CBO, Thika School of Medical Studies, Winam Kenyati Films, + St. Ambrose Catholic Church youth.
This is the hardest marathon I ever run and I always run it about 30 minutes slower than my average marathon time. I finished in 4:59:59 and Jodi finished in 4:27:41. This was Jodi's 2nd fastest marathon in Kenya.
Pre-pasta dinner the night before the World AIDS Marathon for International runners & senior volunteers. For Int'l runners the cost for the marathon + 4 orphan dinner dances, pre-pasta + meet & greet dinner was $140 including Event t-shirt. For Kenyans the cost was $1 for marathon, half marathon or 5K relay + $1 for Event t-shirt.
Thankfully there was some cloud cover; I just love running in Kenya!
Jodi also loves running in Kenya!
Old friends reunited. Joseph Ochieng organized the World AIDS Marathon since 2016. Prior to that Alie Eleveld organized the marathon. We are hoping that Alie can assist Joseph next year even in a minor role.
Thank you Eliud Kipchoge, 1st and only person in the world to run a sub-2 hour marathon, for your support of the 2019 World AIDS Marathon and we welcome your participation in 2020. Thanks Pres. Obama for wishing me well.
Orphan Dinner Dance at Mama Sarah's (President Obama's Grandmother's Home, Nov. 27)
55 orphans, caretakers, volunteers, and International runners dined and danced at Mama Sarah's home and 38 orphans and caretakers were examined and treated. Many of the orphans had malaria and parasites. The U5MR, under 5 mortality rate, has been dropping every year since 1997 but currently there is 1 child out of 22 children who will die before their 5th birthday according to UNICEF. These statistics need to be reduced and as long as we can return next year, we will do our small part to reduce the number of children dying. Without the medicine which Dr. Sartori, Dr. Bonyo and Mfalme Arthur of KEMRI CDC provided; 20 - 25% of the children who tested positive for malaria or parasites would die. What is even more shocking is these kids are great dancers and many of them did not know they had malaria or parasites!
6 year old Kenyan boy, best dancer of the day
Thank you Dr. David for examining and treating the orphans on such short notice. The kids really liked you.
This little guy really new how to jiggle his shoulders and we all tried to follow his lead, I never quite got it right.
Presenting Mama Sarah with the 2018 World AIDS Marathon t-shirt designed by Karen Kemura, left to right: Eunice Owino, Jodi Brodsky, Mama Sarah, Jameelah Aziz, and Anne Oluoch.
Giving orphans a nutritious meal
wherever Jameelah Aziz went, she donated clothing at all 4 orphan dinner dances.
6 year old girl in white dress had the courage to play this complicated stringed instrument.
It is never a question as to whom enjoys the orphan dinner dances the most?
Time to say good-bye or the way we see it is: see you next year and for many years to come. After all, my wife did promise to run a marathon with me for my 100th birthday.
Orphan Dinner Dance at Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Centre, Nov. 29
350 orphans, caretakers, volunteers, and International runners dined and danced at
Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Centre and 250 orphans and caretakers were examined and treated. It just was not the same without Dr. Richard Sartori's presence. Says Dr. Sartori, "I fell ill during the first leg of our flight from New York to Paris. I was cold and had the chills. My breathing was labored. I made it to Nairobi but my breathing was appreciated as 'labored'. I stayed behind in Nairobi and was not able to fulfill my mission to Kisumu. I rested and will be ready for Kisumu and the 2020 World AIDS Marathon."
Two brothers from a different mother. Dr. Sartori and Dr. Bonyo examining an orphan at the November 29, 2018 orphan dinner dance at Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Centre.
THOUGHTS ON AFRICA from Richard Sartori (pictured above). Kenya is my fountain of youth. I feel so very much alive there doing our mission work; it rejuvenates me. These feelings carry over when we must depart and return to our daily lives. In Kenya we touch so many lives. And our hearts are touched in return. I am grateful to have this opportunity to travel with you 8 times thus far. And many more.
a scrumptious meal was served at Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Center.
Dr. Bonyo examining an orphan
24 medical doctors and students from University of Kansas helped examine orphans at Bonyo's Kenya Mission.
a smile and eyes tell it all.
Orphan Dinner Dance at Pastor Paul' s Word Academy, Nov. 30
487 orphans, caretakers, volunteers, and International runners dined and danced at Pastor Paul's Word Academy and 302 orphans and caretakers were examined and treated. This was our 1st visit to Pastor Paul and we will definitely be back in 2020. Jodi and I also got to speak at an International Church Conference where churches, both local and International, came out to support the local community.
Jodi Brodsky speaking at Word Academy / International Church Confernece, Siaya County, event organized by Pastor Paul.
International church conference, 1,000+ attendees
Jodi Brodsky loves dancing with Kenyans.
Pastor Paul welcoming us and sharing his story that he too was an orphan and devoted his life to helping other orphans.
Ignatious Walter Oluoch of Athletics Kenya, the tall man in the center of the picture, was a Godsend. Not only did he drive us to the orphan dinner dances, he also provided massages for Jodi & me every day.
Jameelah Aziz donating shoes and clothing to Pastor Paul's Word Academy.
Medical clinic at Word Academy which was set up for the day of the orphan dinner dance.
Orphan Dinner Dance at JIU PACHI, CBO, December 2
305 orphans, caretakers, volunteers, and International runners dined and danced at Eunice Owino's
JIU PACHI, CBO and 108 orphans and caretakers were examined and treated. This was our 2nd visit to JIU PACHI and special thanks to Eunice Owino for assisting with the World AIDS Marathon organizing committee and we will definitely be back in 2020.
JIU PACHI, CBO had the best dancers!
dance contest at JIU PACHI, prizes supplied by Jameelah Aziz.
Left to right Richard Brodsky, Mfalme Arthur (Richard M. Brodsky Foundation board member and research scientist at KEMRI Eunice Owino, and Jodi Brodsky.
medical clinic set up for the day.
Dancers, animals, flowers, runners, romantic setting, artists, heroes + faces of Kenya, so much to love about Kenya.
Dancers were shown above and if you want to see more photos and videos visit my FACEBOOK pages for World AIDS Marathon or Richard M. Brodsky Foundation or like any of my pages as noted in the section below where you can also see albums of our trips to Kenya.
Photos below are from Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, a five minute taxi ride from the host hotel for the World AIDS Marathon, the Kisumu Imperial Express Hotel.
