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Welcome to the 11th annual World AIDS Marathon + 4 orphan dinner dances, World AIDS Day, December 1, Kisumu, Kenya. Save the date, Dec. 1, 2017 for the 12th annual marathon.
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10 feel-good stories from the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
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1. The 2016 World AIDS Marathon was a huge success and we will be returning to Kenya in 2017. The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation is establishing an NGO in Kenya so we can organize various Events throughout 2017 + the World AIDS Day Marathon + orphan dinner dances + medical care.
2. 838 orphans dined and danced at 4 orphan dinner dances and 209 orphans were examined and treated at these dinners. For doctors and nurses it was a double win. Not only did they get to examine and treat the orphans, they got to dine and dance with them + they got to run with the Kenyans on World AIDS Day.
3. It was not all work and no play. We did get to visit a park for orphaned elephants, go on a safari for a few hours, and visit Kisumu Impala Sanctuary.
4. This was the first year we had seven people traveling from America to run the half or full marathon + we had a pediatrician and a nurse practitioner and an excellent local volunteer, Mercy Abala (more about Mercy to follow). Mercy needs a job in the medical field.
5. Thank you Athletics Kenya for organizing the 2016 World AIDS Marathon. We look forward to working with Athletics Kenya in 2017 as well as CDC and their volunteers.
6. Thank you K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers for donating $68,000 in toys and clothing in conjunction with Toys R Us and Babies R Us to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation. The toys were donated at 23 Events and the 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk banner noting all our sponsors was proudly displayed. $4,000 in cash was donated to various organizations helping people living with HIV or cancer and/or children
7. Included in the $68,000 figure noted above, $3,000 in toys and clothing was donated to HIV+ expectant moms associated with North Shore University Hospital's, Center of AIDS Research & Treatment's + $2,000 in free bowling and various sporting Events, and hotel and restaurant gift certificates to its Client Advisory Board.
8. 55 year old promised fulfilled by running the Nova Scotia Marathon. I ran my fastest post-brain cancer marathon since being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer back in 2002 and finished the July 24, 2016 Nova Scotia Marathon in 03:53:30. I also got my 5K runs down to a 07:22 minute/mile at the Sargent Keith A. Ferguson, August 4, 5K run across the Brooklyn Bridge. People can reverse their aging process, even those living with HIV and cancer.
9. Retrofestivals.org and Great Neck North High School have continued their annual fundraisers by staging a benefit concert and co-ed faculty basketball game
10. Thank you Shalom Maidenbaum of Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC, for sending my wife Jodi and me to run the Jerusalem Marathon. EMUNAH reported that I raised $52,000 as their featured runner on their website
Poster and t-shirt designed by Alexandra Petrenko.
DONATE NOW, for $250 you will receive 4 World AIDS Marathon Event t-shirts and your name will be inscribed on the back of the shirt for having donated t-shirts along with other t-shirt donors. Or donate $100 and your name will be placed on the back of the shirt and you will receive a t-shirt.
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| an hour before the start of the marathon |
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Paulina Ballaban, a disabled athlete, and Maria Zimlis at the start of the marathon
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Richard Brodsky checking on his finish time
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a parade of banners at the finish
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Daniel Manyara and Lillian Chelimo finished 1st. $1,000 in prize money was given to the fastest runners of the marathon, half marathon and relay race.
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A jubilant happy me at the finish.
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Richard and Jodi Brodsky finished the marathon in 04:36:16 and 04:18:37, both PR's for the World AIDS Marathon
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Richard Brodsky and Dr. Richard Sartori were both presented with 1,000 shillings for our philanthropic work by the Minister of Health
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Poster and t-shirt designed by Alexandra Petrenko.
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4 orphan dinner dances for 838 orphans + medical care
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My name is Richard Brodsky and I'm President of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, a 501(c) (3) public charity. I'm married to my marathon-running-loving-wife Jodi for 36 years. I'm HIV+ since 1997, a brain cancer survivor since 2002 and a marathon runner for life. The purpose of the World AIDS Marathon + orphan dinner dances is to raise awareness that 2/3 of the people dying from AIDS live in sub-Saharan Africa while the population represents only13% of the world's land mass.
We're much more than just a Marathon. We also provided medical care at 4 festive orphan dinner dances. 838 orphans dined and danced at Amilo Village, Kogelo, Masara and Kisumu. The events were organized by Mama Sarah (President Obama's 94 year old Kenyan grandmother), Beldina Opiyo (Alice Visionary Foundation Project), Dr. Bonyo (Bonyo's Kenya Mission) and Oron Isaac (Belfon Foundation). The dinners were sponsored by friends of Paulina Ballaban and Dr. Bonyo.
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Alice Visionary Foundation Project, 328 orphans dined and danced.
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Bonyo's Kenya Mission, 300 orphans dined and danced
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Mama Sarah, President Obama's grandmother seated in red robe, and our group of 7 from America with Mercy Abala and her son. 60 orphans dined and danced.
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members of the clean plate club at an orphan dinner dance.
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Joan Gerold made certain the Kenyan children got their run in before they ate at the orphan dinner dances. 150 children dined and danced at Kisumu Museum.
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Party time at Bonyo's Kenya Mission, watch what happens when Dr. Sartori (turquoise shirt) got a medical reprieve because Dr. Bonyo and his team of doctors examined and treated the orphans before we arrived.
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It is not all work and no play!
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Whether it's going on a safari for a few hours, visiting the Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, driving around Kenya, or just seeing the elephant orphans whose parents have been killed for their ivory tusks, well if you do not read anything more, please do not buy ivory. Be part of a movement that can protect elephants from becoming extinct.
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Best year ever as 7 Americans traveled to Kenya plus Paulina Ballaban, nurse practitioner and for the 6th time Dr. Richard Sartori has returned to Kenya. Thank you Mercy Abala for serving as a translator / medical volunteer for every year since 2011.
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In addition Dr. Bonyo and his team of doctors from Ohio, examined and treated 60 orphans at Mama Pilista Bonyo's Memorial Health Center on November 29, plus Dr. Bonyo loaned us his vehicle for traveling while in Kenya. Dr. Richard Sartori examined and treated 159 Kenyan orphans and to date he has examined and treated 544 orphans.
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| Jodi ran her 2nd fastest marathon ever and finished in 03:54:59 |
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Paulina Ballaban and Dr. Sartori examined and treated 159 Kenyan orphans
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Paulina Ballaban, Dr. Richard Sartori, & medical volunteer / translator Mercy Abala examined and treated 43, 58 and 58 orphans respectively at Mama Sarah's, Alice Visionary Foundation's Project and Belfon Foundation's orphan dinner dances on November 27, 28 & 30
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Mercy Abala, far left has been serving as a medical volunteer / translator for all 19 orphan dinner dances the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation has sponsored since 2011. Mercy is seeking an introductory level position in the medical field. I can vouch for her work ethic and quickness to grasp the situation at hand, her calming nature when a child is in discomfort, as well as her quick learning skills + she is easy and pleasant to be with, and has a genuine sense of caring.Kindly contact me if you are in a position to interview Mercy for a medical position.
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Thank you Athletics Kenya and Chairman Joseph Ochieng, Nyanza chapter for organizing the 2016 World AIDS Marathon. We look forward to working with Athletics Kenya in 2017
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Thank you K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers for donating $68,000 in toys and clothing in conjunction with Toys R Us and Babies R Us.
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Included in the $68,000 figure noted above, $3,000 was donated to HIV+ expectant moms
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$3,000 in clothing, diapers, baby formula, christening gowns, and various other product was donated by the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation and the Client Advisory Board at Northwell Health's Center of AIDS Research & Treatment. The 13 baskets are for HIV+ expectant Moms who are treated at the Center. Special thanks to Dr. Sartori for donating the baby formula; K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers and the Brodsky Foundation's partnership with Toys R Us and Babies R Us for donating the balance of the product + all the volunteers who helped package the baskets. Pictures left to right are: June Tappan, Mary Carroll Connelly, Sharon Allan, Dr. Joseph McGowan, Regina Dorismond, Wendy Abt, Jodi Brodsky, June's granddaughter Ciera, Richard Brodsky, and Barbara Martens.
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55 year old promised fulfilled by running the Nova Scotia Marathon. On July 24, 2016, I ran my fastest marathon since my terminal brain cancer diagnosis.
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I love wearing my HIV+ brain cancer t-shirt. Runners and spectators cheer me on and thank me for running their marathon. The odds were not in my favor that I could run a 03:55 to qualify for the 2017 Boston marathon. After all, aren't we supposed to run slower as we get past 40! With the crowd cheering me on, and knowing that I need to give hope to others living with HIV and cancer, + sheer willpower to run Boston 2017, and hoping The Man upstairs would look out for me, I was able to beat my post brain cancer PR by 06:26 minutes and feel strong at the finish.
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| Jodi ran her 2nd fastest marathon ever and finished in 03:54:59 |
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Jodi won first place in her age group, photo: courtesy of Kathy Johnson.
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Crossing Barrington and running onto Cape Sable Island, the southerly tip of Nova Scotia. That's me, 3rd from left. Kathy Johnson wrote an article, see below, about the marathon and Jodi and I were featured in the local newspaper. When I was 8 years old, I collected travel brochures with a friend and Nova Scotia had the best brochure. I promised myself that I would visit Nova Scotia one day and 55 years later I fulfilled my promise.
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Pictured above: August 7, 2016, Sargent Keith A. Ferguson, 5K Memorial Run, Brooklyn Bridge, I ran my fastest 5K ever at a 7:21 minute mile pace and finished 2nd in my 10 year age group in a field of 800+ runners.
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Retrofestivals.org & Great Neck North High School continue to support Richard M, Brodsky Foundation
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5th annual co-ed faculty basketball game, Great Neck North High School
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Richard Brodsky raises $52,000 for Jerusalem Marathon
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Thank you Shalom Maidenbaum for sending Jodi and me to run the Jerusalem Marathon. We raised $52,000 for Emunah Bet Elazraki Children's Home plus toured Israel for several days.
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Richard and Jodi Brodsky presenting a thank you poster to Shalom Maidenbaum. Jodi and I are ready anytime to run a marathon for charity helping children affected by AIDS or cancer.
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150 children out of 225 from Emunah Bet Elazraki Children's Home participated in a 5k run as part of the Jerusalem Marathon
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Jodi won first place in her age group.
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Emunah magazine reported that Richard Brodsky raised $52,000 for Emunah Bet Elazraki children's home. In fairness, I raised a small percent of that amount and the bulk of the donations was from my being the featured runner on Emunah's fundraising page for the Jerusalem Marathon.
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Thanks for keeping up with the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation's work.
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 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk
World Aids Marathon Page
Richard M Brodsky Foundation
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We are beginning to defeat AIDS. According to the latest UN AIDS report for 2016: The number of people dying from AIDS has reduced from 2,000,000 to 1,100,000 from 2005 to 2015 and the number of newly infected HIV-positive people has reduced from 2,200,000 to 2,100,000 from 2010 to 2015. Clearly, more emphasis needs to be placed on reducing the number of new HIV-infected people.
The number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment increased from less than 1 million in 2005 to 7.5 million in 2014, to 15.8 million in 2015. President Obama,
you wrote me
and wished me well four times in the past, but I can't accept how I can lead a healthy productive life while others in sub-Saharan Africa are plagued by A LACK OF DOCTORS, MEDICINE, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, CLEAN DRINKING WATER & NUTRITIOUS FOOD COMBINED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF POVERTY, HUNGER, MALARIA & TUBERCULOSIS!
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Please support the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, view a sponsorship package here
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DONATE NOW
(online donations click above link
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All donations are greatly appreciated. You can also mail your donation to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, 1247 Mara Court Atlantic Beach, NY 11509.
For the following donations you will be entitled to the following mementos (all larger donations will be entitled to donations of lesser amounts):
$25, a personalized certificate of appreciation depicting photos of the World AIDS Marathon and related Events.
$50, a copy of the book,
Richard Brodsky's Journey of Hope.
$100, a personalized post-Event t-shirt
$250, four personalized post-Event t-shirts with your name inscribed to shirt that you donated t-shirts along with other t-shirt donors.
$500, thank you for co-sponsoring an orphan dinner dance
$1,000, thank you for sponsoring an orphan dinner dance or providing prize awards to the elite runners.
Sincerely,
Richard Brodsky
Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
write me
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please share your thoughts.
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