Antlers, scarves, jingle bells and Santa hats were all the rage during the Second Annual Santa Speedo Run Dec. 17. The one-mile fun run featured more than 130 runners and raised more than $30,000 for the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas' Brighter Seasons for Children charity.
“When we planned this year's run I told the staff that we could raise $20,000,” Jay Aller, Resource Development Manager for ASAP told the crowd of runners before they took off down Beach Boulevard toward downtown Gulfport. “And you surprised me with your generosity and campaigning for donations and we surpassed that by more than $10,000!”
In its first year, the run had just over 30 participants and raised just under $10,000. The phenomenal growth in this year's event can be attributed to more community awareness, partnerships with media outlets like Watermark, Brighthouse Networks and Play 98.7, Aller said.
The 78-degree temperatures also didn't hurt turnout and several runners were seen putting on sun block prior to the run.
The Santa Speedo Run took participants through Gulfport's main drag and finished at O'Maddy's Pub, which offered free beer to runners in Speedos.
