The Optimist Club of Anguilla has come in for much praise for its Second Annual Race Against AIDS to create an awareness among the youth in particular about the disease.

Children in the race against AIDS in Anguilla

The race was held on Sunday, November 28, beginning at sunrise at the Agricultural Department in the Valley. There were a total of 170 participants divided in the following categories: 29 in the half marathon to Long Bay Village and back; 15 in the 10k to Bethel Methodist Church and back; 70 in the 5k to George Hill Tyre Shop and back; and there were 56 walkers.

The participants included a number of Anguillians; Competitors from St.Maarten, St. Barths, St. Kitts, Antigua, Sweden, Norway, Germany and the United States. With a team of 28, Antigua had the largest number of competitors who performed very well.

Participants in the Race Against AIDS held in Anguilla. The photographs were taken just after the race had started outside the Agricultural Department

The half marathon was won by Dale Johanshen of Antigua who completed the 13-mile journey in 1 hour and 19 minutes. In second place was Patrick Trival of St. Maarten who finished in 1 hour and 32 minutes; and in third place was Emmanuel Cau of St. Barths. They took the cash prizes of $1,000 for first place; $500 for second and $250 for third place.

In the female section of the half marathon, first place was taken by Kittitian Shannon Fritzgerald; Kelly Willard also of St. Kitts was second and third was Saskia Schroten of St. Maarten.

Participants in the Race Against AIDS held in Anguilla. The photographs were taken just after the race had started outside the Agricultural Department

Trophies and medals were presented to the participants in the 10k and 5k running races.

The races were preceded by workshop sessions the day before at the Teachers’ Resource Centre. Some of the topics were Addressing Men and HIV/AIDS; Teens fighting against HIV/AIDS; and the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women.

Facilitators for the workshop were Linda St. Hubert of AIDS Alliance in Washington, DC, and Nathaniel Scruggs of Total Health Care in Baltimore, Maryland.

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