by MIKE CAPUTO
Brodsky, an Atlantic Beach resident, is HIV-positive and a brain cancer survivor. Since he was first diagnosed with HIV about 11 years ago, Brodsky has put forth a major effort to spread awareness and raise money.
After two years of running a World AIDS Marathon in
Kenya, Brodsky, 55, has decided to bring his idea home to Long Island.
Through his foundation, Brodsky is sponsoring the first annual 5K AIDS/Cancer/Survive/Run/Walk on June 22 at Cedar Creek Park in Seaford.
"In this country, I guess more people need to realize that just because they are HIV-positive doesn't mean their life can't go on," said Brodsky, who was raised in North Woodmere. "There are still good things."
Brodsky would know. In the midst of a 2002 tour to promote his book, "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told," Brodsky suffered a seizure and was later told that he had a brain tumor. Doctors told Brodsky he only had two to four years to live.
Even with two walls closing in on him, Brodsky was able to continue and even expand his efforts. He established the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation in 2004, which led to the establishment of the Kenya World AIDS Marathon, a fund-raising event held yearly in Africa.
Brodsky's supportive wife, Jodi, runs alongside her husband in both the figurative and literal sense. Raising a family with three children in Atlantic Beach, Jodi Brodsky stood by her husband despite his HIV diagnosis in 1997. In addition to coordinating philanthropic efforts through the foundation, Jodi is a regular running partner with her husband.
Brodsky has a passion for his cause, and combined with the support he receives from family, friends and even strangers, he is inspired to complete the 26-mile runs.
"I have a lot of people that count on me to finish this because I really want people to know that they can run marathons even if you have cancer or are HIV-positive," Brodsky said.
The 5K run in Seaford will kick off at 9 a.m., with runners gathering in Cedar Creek Park at 8:30 a.m. The event is United States and Track and Field sanctioned, and is limited to 450 runners/walkers.
Also, there will be free AIDS and cancer testing, sponsored by various non-profit agencies. Forty percent of the proceeds will go to help Long Islanders living with HIV and cancer. The remaining proceeds will go to various AIDS and cancer projects in the United States and in Africa. For more information, visit the foundation Web site at www.richardmbrodsky.com or www.5kaidscancer.com.
