Race against AIDS....
(
photo courtesy of Anthony Defeo)
Its hard to believe that it has been 30 years since the AIDS pandemic reached our cultural radar screen. AIDS has also affected the little
hamlet of Ogunquit, as it has it many communities.
The
Frannie Peabody Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive services to people with HIV/AIDS. This organization does amazing things for many people in the Ogunquit area.
Today marks the 3rd Annual Frannie Peabody Beach to Bay 5km Race for AIDS and 5k Walk. The race is administered by Ogunquit's Jimmy Lucibello.
Over the past 8 years I have done a variety of races for all kinds of causes. However, the Ogunquit race is a bit different. For a small town race, it's actually quite festive. The whole weekend is devoted to AIDS awareness with functions and events taking place throughout the town. The AIDS race featured: a barbecue, food, massage therapists, deejay, yoga, goodie bags with t-shirt, and a giant piñata shaped as an AIDS ribbon. And of course there were drag queens to entertain and enlighten the masses. The AIDS memorial quilt was also on display at the Dunaway Center.
The race course was a bit different this year. It was a combination of beach, street, sand and wooden footbridge race.
The
Ogunquit Police Department gave the runners and walkers an escort through town. Ogunquit selectman Bobby Winn, measured and set the race course. Winn is not only town selectman, he is also an elite runner, placing first at today's event.
I came in 4th overall with a time of 20.36. Not bad for a mixed course of sand, beach, and road. I averaged 6.38 minutes a mile. There was a modest headwind for the last mile on the beach.
The day was perfect: bright morning sun, great run on the beach with friends, food, entertainment and a lot of monetary support for the Frannie Peabody Center.....
To contact or find out about men's support group
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(photo courtesy of Anthony Defeo)
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