Runners, walkers hit Baldwin Park

At the starting line, runners took their marks.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Richard Brodsky, the race director and president of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, posed with Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, left and his wife, Jodi.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Mwangi Gitahi, from New York City, took first place in the field of nearly 250 participants.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

People of all ages ran and walked in the seventh annual 5K Aids/Cancer Run/Walk at Baldwin Park on June 29. The event raised thousands of dollars for toys to be purchased and donated to area hosptials and organizations that help people in need.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Brittany Franco, of Baldwin, crossed the finish line.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

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Runners flocked to Baldwin Park on June 29 to participate in the seventh annual 5K AIDS/Cancer Run/Walk.

The event, hosted by Richard Brodsky of Atlantic Beach, had 306 registrants and 244 finishers. With the money the race raised, $7,000 in toys was donated to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital of Far Rockaway and Five Towns Community Center of Lawrence. The week, $2,400 was donated to the Ronald McDonald House, Five Towns Community Center of Lawrence, Center of AIDS Research & Treatment at North Shore University Hospital (CART) in Manhasset, Client Advisory Board of CART, Cohen Children’s Medical Center of NY, and Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition of Hewlett. The Brodsky Foundation is hopeful that it will be able to donate another $7,000 in toys in July.

“There are not enough activities for people living with HIV,” Brodsky said. “I thought it would be great if we could get people living with HIV and cancer to participate so there was no charge for these people and their health status would not be disclosed.”

Brodsky, president of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) public charity, has been HIV positive since 1997, a brain cancer survivor since 2002 and a marathon runner for life.

The Brodsky Foundation’s mission is to help raise awareness to government, business and society that people afflicted with HIV or cancer should never give up.