For the second year in a row, Speedo-clad runners will jog through the streets of Gulfport for a good cause. Nearly 60 registered runners will raise money for the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas' Brighter Seasons for Children charity by collecting sponsors of the mile-long run.
“The money helps kids in our area who are in our programs and are affected by HIV,” said Jay Aller, resource development manager for ASAP. “These kids are either infected or are affected because their parents have HIV.”
Brighter Seasons was created in 1996.
Since HIV medication is so expensive and many of ASAP's clients are single-parent households, the holidays can be a tough time for them”specifically for the children.
“This helps provide gifts for the kids and holiday meals for the families,” Aller explained. “It also helps with back to school supplies and to stock our food pantry.”
In 2010, the Santa Speedo Run raised $10,000 and had 32 runners. This year, Aller is hopeful that ASAP will meet or even exceed its $20,000 goal. At press time, nearly $13,000 had been raised.
“This year there's a bigger media push,” Aller said. “Bright House Networks contacted me and asked if we wanted them to air our PSA. Of course we do. And there has been a lot of interest in the community about it this year just from word of mouth.”
The Santa Speedo Run was inspired by the original run, which originated in Boston more than a decade ago. There, thousands of runners raise more than $200,000 for children's charities, although none of those charities are HIV/AIDS-related.
“Last year, [former ASAP resource development manager] Anthony Barros came up with the idea for the run and I ran with it,” Aller said. “It was a very grass roots effort and it was really just a bunch of us who knew each other getting together and doing it. This year is shaping up to be bigger.”
The City of Gulfport is an official sponsor of the Santa Speedo Run and Mayor Mike Yakes officially acknowledged the run as part of the city's holiday festivities. But despite this year's growth, the run will seem very familiar to those returning in its second year, according to Aller.
“We've made improvements to the donation web pages for registered runners and we've had more exposure in the media this year, but overall the feel of the run will be the same,” he said.
The run is Saturday, Dec. 17 and begins at Clymer Park at Beach Drive and Gulfport Boulevard with a 3 p.m. registration. The run officially begins at 4 p.m. and ends near O'Maddy's Bar on Shore Drive. Registration is open for participants until 4 p.m. and donations are welcome at any time.
“We're also including a toy drive at this year's run,” Aller said. “Anyone is welcome to bring a new, unwrapped toy and they will have their name put in a drawing for one of five gift certificates to area restaurants.”
Registration is $25 and the event is considered a “fun run,” meaning it is not a race. Participants are also not required to wear a Speedo”any appropriate attire is accepted.
For more information or to donate, visit ASAPServices.org.
