When Anthony Barros was looking at different ways to incorporate a Santa Speedo Run fundraiser into the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas’ calendar, he knew Gulfport was the place to hold it.
“I knew Gulfport would be able to embrace it and make it its own in time,” said Barros, who also coordinates the annual AIDS Walk St. Petersburg in September. “I hope I’m bringing something to the Tampa Bay area that will become a tradition.”
The Dec. 18 Santa Speedo Run is a one-mile run—or walk or jog—beginning at Gulfport’s Clymer Park and snaking through the historic district to the Recreation Center. Registration begins at 3 p.m. and the run starts at 4 p.m. Runners are encouraged to wear Speedos or other tight-fitting attire, but it’s not required.
“This is going to be fun and quirky but the important thing to remember is that it raises money for a great cause,” Barros said.
Money raised at the Santa Speedo Run directly benefits ASAP’s Brighter Seasons for Children program. The long-running program assists people who have children infected with HIV/AIDS or parents battling the disease. Money raised assists in funding a special holiday for these families, including purchasing gifts, food and more.
“For me the holidays are all about the kids,” Barros said. “If bringing in a few extra bucks helps people out and we can buy a few more hams or help with a few more holiday gifts, then it’s worth it.”
The idea of the Speedo Run originated 10 years ago in Boston, where charity-driven athletes would brave the cold weather to don Speedos and run for a children’s cause. Barros said the Gulfport event will have the same spirit behind it, but possibly different weather.
“The fun of the run is braving the cold but we may have mild temperatures, you never know,” Barros said. “I hope that we reach a different segment of the population for fundraising for AIDS charities. I expect to see running enthusiasts and athletes out there.”
The Santa Speedo Run is one of several fundraising events for ASAP. The group just wrapped its Passport to Gulfport fundraiser the first weekend of December and held its 7th Annual AIDS Walk St. Petersburg in September.
This year the organization elected not to hold its World AIDS Day Gala.
“We did the Passport event instead,” Barros said. “Often you see the same donors in the HIV arena, and we are grateful for that. But HIV reaches so many different spectrums and communities and I think one responsibility of ours is to reach out to the overall community. It increases our donor base and the services we offer.”
