The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation sponsored its 18th annual World AIDS Marathon, half, 10 & 5K on World AIDS Day, on the Rockaway Boardwalk to honor the memory and accomplishments of the 42,000,000+ people who have died from AIDS. We then travelled to Kenya from December 3-13 to sponsor 4 orphan dinner dances and provided medical care for orphans, sponsored a concert and art lessons for special needs kids as well as a free 5K AIDS run/walk (see photos below) and a Meet and Greet dinner with musical performances. We have the best time travelling to Kenya and helping the orphans, musicians, artists, special needs kids and runners. It has become a second home for Jodi and me. So much so that we have come up with a plan that we are hoping that NYC/Rockaway and Kenya’s Kisumu/Dunga can be sister cities. .

I am pleased to say that at age 72-73, I will be running 4 marathons in 2025. I am also applying to have the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation approved as an official Boston Marathon charity so people can register to run the marathon and that will raise funds and awareness for my Foundation. 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 living with HIV and brain cancer. I can only be successful in helping others with your help and my wife’s love. Jodi has promised to run a marathon with me for my 100th birthday. I do think it is likely and it is more likely if I believe it is possible. On the other hand, how likely would it be if I said there is no chance I will run a marathon for my 100th birthday. Positive thinking rules!

I have purchased extra 2024 World AIDS Marathon T-Shirts with graphics designed by Kenyan artist Maurice Opiyo. For a $100 donation, I can send you the 2024 World AIDS Marathon t-shirt. The shirt is very long and great for dancing in.

2024 World AIDS Day was on Sunday, December 1, and we had 209 registrants, more than double what we had last year. Fire Dept. Team STATION 47 - THE BEST ON THE BEACH had 15 registrants + volunteers/cheerleaders. We were blessed to have the support of the local Fire Department EMS team and its 15 participants. Team Captain Sean Josten requested the $500 donation be made to the FDNY EMS Help Fund.

209 people registered for the marathon, half marathon, 10 and 5K on World AIDS Day, Rockaway boardwalk. Race results can be viewed here. 5K winners m/f were Travis Bowers 25:55 and Madeline Lipponer 23:30, 10K winners m/f were Sean Josten 49:50 and Chiarra Pizetta 54:34, half marathon winners m/f were Jay Sims 1:33:29 and Ava Sultana 1:51:00, and full marathon winners m/f were Luke Malinda 2:44:32 and Ariana Fazal 3:37:41.

Proceeds from the event benefitted St. John's Episcopal Hospital, Campaign Against Hunger, Harmony HealthCare Long Island and the charitable work the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation does in Kenya. In addition three donations of $500 each were made to Fire Dept NY EMS Help Fund, Northwell Health Center of AIDS Research & Treatment, and Rosie's Theater Kids. These donations were made to the three teams which had the most registrations. Thank you St. John's Episcopal Hospital for providing flu vaccines and basic health info to anyone who visited your mobile testing van Photo above l to r , Antonio Handy, Health Coach; Rose Guerrier, Manager of Partnerships & Community Relations; and Helen Montero, Community Health Manager.

Team STATION 47 - THE BEST ON THE BEACH had 15 registrants + volunteers/cheerleaders. We were blessed to have the support of the local Fire Department EMS team and its 15 participants. Team Captain Sean Josten requested the $500 donation be made to FDNY EMS Help Fund.

Team Northwell Health CART had 9 participants and the $500 donation will be sent to Northwell. Northwell provides the best medical care for people living with HIV/AIDS on Long Island. I can say this firsthand and their social support staff is highly motivated as exemplified by Team Captain Carmen Rosario Silverio. Carmen was too humble to provide a quote but she did say to use this quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer, "if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change".

Team AVA'S WINGS had 12 participants. Sadly Ava Conklin, a 20 year old aspiring actress died in a car accident caused by a reckless car driver in Far Rockaway. Team Captain Juan Rosado thought this run would be a great way to acknowledge Ava. Ava's parents requested the $500 donation be made to Rosie's Theater Kids. Click here to read more about Ava. Without the support of volunteers, these events cannot be successful. Here is a big shoutout to The Official Long Island Road Runners Club for handling registration, t-shirts, water, food and trophies with assists from Ridgewood Savings Bank, Rockaway Business Alliance, Malik Fraternity, and Tara Christie Miner. Food and beverages were supplied by All Round Foods/Glen Wolther, Tamburino's Deli of Cedarhurst, a fruit platter from Keyfood of East Long Beach and Starbucks Coffee from Arverne.

Richard and Jodi Brodsky finished the marathon in 5:44;41 and 5:09:53. Richard and Jodi were the two oldest runners so I guess we can say we finished 1st in the 70+ age division.

Thank ypu Eunice Owino, CEO of Jiu Pachi for hosting the Art lessons for special needs kids. Thank you artists Edward Orato, George Omondi Odongo, Andrew Omari, + Maurice Opio for tutoring 35 kids.

Carrie and Richard Sartori donated books to inaugurate the Sartori Library at Jiu Pachi. Photo taken by Richard M. Brodsky Foundation board member Kevin Ong'uti Momanyi. Thrilled about seeing a 2nd generation coming to Kenya. May our work live on through our kids.

I met the LOVE CAT at the front door to Eunice Owino's home, how's that for a lovely welcome greeting!

The art students take their work very seriously. Kenya was the 1st country in Africa to have free education for grades K - 8. Over the years it has improved. Each student may choose between sports, music or art and they take more courses in their chosen field so they will be more skilled if they follow up with their childhood interest.

Gabiro MTU Necessary

Gabiro Live in Concert

All guests received t-shirts from runs in America.

Kisumu Impala Sanctuary and my bride of 44 years

Monkeying around in a tree

L to R: Terry Doyle, Richard and Carrie Sartori, Richard & Jodi Brodsky/Bohemia Track Club, and Jameelah Aziz

That tail stretches forever

320 orphans dined and danced.

Terry Doyle gave 20 foot massages to kids and adults

Dr. Sartori examined & treated 70 orphans

Dance party at Word Academy

76 orphans dined and danced.

No Jameelah, you can't take a baby home to America

Dr. Sartori examined & treated 31 orphans

Terry Doyle gave 30 foot massages to kids and adults.

It tastes even better than it looks

Start

Excited to run (running is as popular in Kenya as baseball is in the USA)

A few runners near the start

Youngest winners

Running with animals

72 participants completed the 5K AIDS fun run walk with animals and everyone received a t-shirt painted by Maurice Opiyo Artist with a matching medal, see medal below.

Award winning photo taken by Kenyan policewoman Florence Mitungu, note the man to the right of the bird and he is not short

Florence Mitungu and Jodi Brodsky at the start, photo taken immediately after Best Photo of Richard M. Brodsky Foundation's trip to Kenya

328 orphans dined and danced.

350 - 400 kids and staff waiting patiently for our arrival. Kids are amazingly well behaved.

Dr. Sartori examined and treated 68 Kenyan kids.

Terry Doyle gave 27 foot massages.

Kids are hungry and just enjoy sharing a good meal with friends.

A loving couple:Carolyne Kandere pictured above is married to Ignatious Walter Oluoch. Both are teachers and Ignatious teaches at Lela Primary School and helps us immensely in Kenya. Carolyne arrived to the school very early to make sure everything would be perfectly coordinated which of course it was thanks to the school's staff. This program was organized on three days notice due to an unexpected cancellation from another venue. We are used to adapting to change in Kenya. Next year we are hoping we can add this new venue so we can sponsor 5 orphan dinner dances instead of 4. Dr. Sartori and Terry Doyle both said they are OK with examining and massaging orphans for an extra day.

185 orphans dined and danced at Jiu Pachi

Dr. Sartori examined and treated 26 Kenyan orphans.

Dr. Sartori is tucked in the back corner, wearing his purple shirt, but it is a team of doctors and nurses which makes it possible for Dr. Sartori to do his work. Terry Doyle gave foot massages to 18 kids.

I like the idea of having my sponsors know they are represented in Kenya. The women next to Eunice Owino is wearing a shirt that reads Theresa Foundation.

Long Island Ducks is represented at the Kisumu Imperial Express where we stay, $67 a night for a double room with a buffet breakfast. The hotel owns a commercial bakery, SUNBLEST and will donate baked goods to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation's various Kenyan events in 2025.

Board member Kevin Ong'uti's son is wearing a t-shirt from the New Hyde Park Running Club honoring Terry Bisogno, the Voice of Long Island Racing.

Dancing at Jiu Pachi

Jameelah Aziz, pictured above, has donated 1,430 pounds of clothing to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation since 2018. Jameelah requested the 450 pounds of clothing she brought this year be shared at the 4 orphan dinner dances sponsored by the Brodsky Foundation in Kisumu, Siaya, and Kobura, Kenya, more specifically to Jiu Pachi, Mama Sarah Obamas Childrens Foundation, Pastor Paul's Word Academy, and Lela Primary School.

FINAL DAY in Kenya, Dec 13, 2024, JIU PACHI, (Eunice Owino - host, Concert for special needs kids and art exposition for special needs kids paintings, fashion show organized by Eve Madara. Carrie Sartori donated $600 in books and clothing, Jameelah Aziz donated 460 pounds of clothing. Kisumu Kids Africa Kenya dancers and DJ Steve Jentrix danced and sang for hours and 185 orphans and caretakers dined and danced.

220 orphans dined and danced

Eve Madara organized a fashion show.

Kisumu Kids Africa Kenya Dancers and DJ Steve Jentrix provided music and dancing.

Medal designed by Matt Mercurio of Stride Awards, love seeing Dunga on t-shirt and how it varies when it is placed on medal. I do highly recommend the t-shirt vendor also, and you can contact me

One of our best Kenyan t-shirts and I will treasure the painting.

A new generation: Carrie Sartori donated $600 in clothing + shoes.

George Omondi Odongo's art stall, the colors draw me in.

Watch for updated info: denim jackets with Kenyan paintings will be sold shortly, write me if you are interested, we have a limited quantity of paintings at this time.

Kisumu / Dunga / Kenya needs a sister city... NYC / Rockaway? Kenya has some incredibly talented runners, musicians, singers, dancers, artists and is surrounded by Lake Victoria. The Kisumu Impala Sanctuary faces Lake Victoria and is a five minute drive from downtown Kisumu and is at the beginning of Dunga. The video showcases Dunga through music videos with slides of Kenyan artists and even animals participating in a 5K AIDS fun run + a day at JIU PACHI where orphans dine & dance and are examined by doctors. Why can't Americans embrace and celebrate diversity like Kenyans do! My wish is for a cultural bridge between USA and Kenya with a pavilion in the Rockaways where Kenyans could sell their paintings, jewelry, clothing, and wood carvings; Kenyan musicians could have a venue to perform; a playground and communal bar-b-que area; and a fish market where fresh fish could be sold and cooked from Jamaica Bay; + a small museum/theatre which could showcase videos of Dunga and the Rockaways; and residents of the Rockaways would want to travel to Dunga and Kenya.