The 2021 World AIDS Marathon t-shirt was painted by Stephen Bennett. The graphic text was designed by Rupert Reyneke. Stephen's work appears on United Nations postage stamps. The colorful face is Theresa Alessandra Russo, a special needs child who brought great joy to her parents: Vincent & Susan Russo for sadly only 5 years. The Russos started the Theresa Foundation to keep Theresa's memory alive. Not only are we keeping her memory alive in America, her memory is alive and strong in Kenya. The Theresa Foundation sponsored 5 painting lessons and a concert for special needs kids at Jiu Pachi, hosted by Eunice Owino, in April through June and 11/26 and 12/3. An art exhibit of paintings by special needs kids was on display at the 12/3 concert.

There were approximately 100 finishers at the 2021 Kisumu, Kenya World AIDS Marathon, half marathon and 4 person half marathon relay.

The winners of the marathon are male George Onyancha and female Caroline Jepkemei, finishing in 2:15:06 and 2:39:32.

Jodi & Richard Brodsky finished 1st in the Veteran's Division in 4:43:13 and 5:01:36. Both of us were the oldest runners in m/f division by 30+ years.

Click here for the race results for all 100 finishers. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated.

Life is always a big party at Jiu Pachi especially with Stephen Abuto, the local DJ

105 kids, caretakers and volunteers dined and danced.

74 kids & guardians were examined and treated by local doctors. More guardians were sick this year. last year there were more sick kids. Thanks Dr. Richard Sartori for donatng medicine for 4 orphan dinner dances.

So blessed to be visiting Jiu Pachi and dining and dancing with orphans, and so sad having to say good-bye.

A beaming Jodi Brodsky could not care less about traffic on the marathon course. The shirt that Jodi and I (Richard pictured below) are wearing appears on United Nations postage stamps and was painted by Stephen Bennett.

Runners exiting the Kisumu Museum on race day and the marathon, half marathon, and half marathon relay started a quarter mile down the street.

Exactly what I should not be doing but this was after 20 miles; I fit the definition of a heel striker to the T. I should be landing on the front of my foot.

Getting anything done in Kenya while working from America is not easy but here we are two days before the marathon thrilled to be viewing the World AIDS Marathon banner at the Kisumu Imperial Express Hotel where we always stay.

So proud of my wife. It is very hot in Kenya; temperatures reached 83 degree Fahrenheit plus there are very few level areas on the course. Thanks Ignatious Walter Oluoch for being the best calligrapher I know, amazing finisher certificates.

Artists, musicians, dancers, and runners... we all need to support each other. Thank you to the Kenyan artists for supporting 15th annual World AIDS Marathon. Thanks Athletics Kenya and Joseph Ochieng, Chairman Athletics Kenya North for organizing the Event. $1,000 in prize money was donated by Richard M. Brodsky Foundation to fastest runners and prizes were 10 deep in each category.

300+/- orphans and caretakers dined and danced at Bonyo's Kenya Misson and 52 children and caretakers were examined and treated.

Says Dr. Bonyo, 'The more the merrier'... when the smell of food permeated the air, lots of local students rushed in. Well, not exactly, they had to be coaxed in by me and the memory of Dr. Bonyo's heartfelt words; the more the merrier.

We hope to see everyone back in 2022. After the dinner we had to get ready for the pre-marathon dinner at the Imperial Hotel in Kisumu.

Talk about being genetically blessed, not only are Kenyan runners the best, so are their dancers.

Bonyo’s Kenya Mission (BKM) right to left, Dr. Bonyo, head of BKM; Eunice Owino, CEO of Jiu Pachi; Jodi Brodsky, American marathoner; Rene Wallesch, German marathoner; Ingatious Walter Oluoch, calligrapher, massage therapist and so helpful to Richard & Jodi Brodsky; and Josh & Erin Riegle of Linc Worldwide.

204 children dined and danced and welcomed our Team with open arms.

Pastor Paul, thanks so much for providing a nourishing meal.

The children sang songs to entertain the visitors.

36 children were examined and treated.

Special needs kids proudly displaying their paintings. We really need more activities for special needs kids. Thanks Theresa Foundation and artist Sam Olu for designing banner and all art tutors who brought out the best in these kids.

Rene Wallesch, a German marathoner, who comes to Kenya almost every World AIDS Day to run the World AIDS Marathon, is featured in foreground with Kenyan flag colors braided in his hair, helping to serve dinner.

A few days later at the 12/3 concert, the students proudly displayed their artwork.

Artist Sam Olu, one of the art tutors reviewing the work of one of his students.

Board Member of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, Kevin Ong'uti Momanyi dancing with orphans at Mama Sarah (Pres. Obama's grandmothers) home.

55 chiidren, parents and teachers attended the orphan dinner dance and 47 children received medical exams.

Sadly Mama Sarah seated in the middle, passed away last year at age 99. 2019 was the last time we had the pleasure of visiting her, Left to right: Eunice Owino, Jodi Brodsky, Mama Sarah, Jameelah Aziz, and Anne Oluoch. Thank you Marsat Onyango, Mama Sarah's daughter, for hosting the orphan dinner dance this year.

2007 was the first year I met Mama Sarah. I suggested back in 2006, the 1st year the marathon was held in Kisumu, that we invite Senator Obama's grandmother to flag off the World AIDS Marathon. As luck would have it, Joseph Ochieng, race director for World AIDS Marathon and board member of Richard M. Brodsky Foundation were lifelong friends from the same village. Mama Sarah not only flagged off the marathon but we got to dine with her as well. Mama Sarah is seated in the middle next to my wife Jodi. What a wonderful gracious lady and may she rest in peace.

Our last day in Kenya we thought we would visit the animals at Kisumu Impala Sanctuary. Sadly the giraffe died during a flood a year ago. Fortunately for us, this water buffalo's wish that we would be his next meal did not come to fruition.

Kisumu Impala Sanctuary fronts on Lake Victoria and is such a romantic setting. It is at the beginning of Dunga, a few miles long by a half mile wide with Lake Victoria on both sides.

Someone kidnapped Jodi and hid her in a painting at the airport. Neither of us wanted to return home to America.

Dunga probably has inspired more Kenyan artists to paint fishermen returning home from a day's catch in Lake Victoria, women cleaning fish, animals, flowers, birds + children playing along the shore while the sun is setting and the docks beckon the tourists to step into the Lake and recall every memory cause a trip to Kenya for many people is a once in a lifetime Event. Jodi and I are blessed to have visited Kenya 15 times.

I always have a special need to visit Dunga and Dunga Point. This year, a little more so. My friend, Sam Olu, and a group of artists/sculptors were commissioned to do this sculpture which is filled with plastic bottles. The purpose of the sculpture is to raise awareness that we cannot have plastics contaminating lakes, rivers and oceans.

Another place I like to hang out is the Maasai Market where all the artists have their studios. I make it a point to buy a painting from all the artists who participated as tutors for the art lessons for special needs kids. This is the the studio of George Omondi Odongo.

By Artist: Andrew Omari.

By Artist: Baba Tracy.

By Artist: Coster Ojwang, first Kenyan to design World AIDS Marathon t-shirt.

By Artist: Edward Orato, second Kenyan to design World AIDS Marathon t-shirt.

By Artist: George Omondi Odongo

By Artist: Sherly Biyaki

By Artist: Maurice Opiyo

By Artist: Sam Olu, organized artists and special needs kids to paint Theresa and the painting was presented to Theresa Foundation in America, painting is 6 feet tall.