What do you get when you take more than 100 people, dress them in Speedo bathing suits and other holiday gear, and ask them to race through the streets of Ybor City? You get several thousand dollars to help AIDS Service Association of Pinellas (ASAP), an organization supporting persons with HIV/AIDS across the Tampa Bay area. The 4th Annual Santa Speedo Run took place under perfect skies at Centennial Park on Sunday as part of World AIDS Day.
Event coordinator Jay Aller expected around 150 runners and 150 spectators for Sunday's run. The course was a one-mile loop through several blocks of Ybor City.
The run began at 2 p.m. with the first Speedo Santa, Malcolm Williams, finishing the course in about 10 minutes.
Everyone who completed the race received a medal and was invited to attend an after-party at Gaspar's Grotto, where runners celebrated with free beer.
According to ASAP's web site, World AIDS Day brings together people from around the world to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. It is an opportunity for public and private partners to spread awareness about the status of the pandemic and encourage progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in high-prevalence countries and around the world.
This article appears in Nov 28 – Dec 4, 2013.