Support APLA Runners in the LA Marathon Sunday

Wondering how to spend your lovely Sunday?  How about joining others in cheering on 250 APLA runners who are participating in the National AIDS Marathon Training Program as they run with about 25,000 other runners in the LA Marathon through Hollywood, West Hollywood, West LA and Santa Monica.

APLA says they will have signs, clappers, pom-poms and more at multiple locations – the numbers refer to the mile markers.

• #10 – “Hollywood Cheering Section:” Hollywood Boulevard between the 101 and Gower, on the northeast corner of Bronson by “Tommy Burgers.” (8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)

• #15 – “West Hollywood major event point and Cheering Section:” Look for the tent at Santa Monica and Doheny.  This is a major water stop and cheering section.  (7:00 a.m. – tear down at approx 2:00 p.m.)

• #20 – “West LA Cheering Section:” Sawtelle Blvd., just north of Santa Monica Blvd. – see map (10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

• #25 – “Santa Monica/FINISH LINE Cheering Section:” Ocean Boulevard near Arizona by the FINISH LINE!  Should be finished by around 3:30 p.m.

Here’s the LA Marathon’s official video:

Here’s APLA’s press release:

Amid the 25,000 expected to run this Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon will be 250 yellow-jerseyed runners who have raised half a million dollars for the fight against HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles.

The runners are participants in the National AIDS Marathon Training Program, who have followed a training regimen developed by world-renowned runner and marathon trainer Jeff Galloway. Many in the group, which has trained together each weekend for six months and logged more than 250 practice miles, had never run prior to joining the program.

This year’s Los Angeles runners include:

Atwater resident Tom Keene. While training for this year’s marathon, Tom has simultaneously undergone physical therapy to overcome the effects of recent bouts with spinal meningitis and a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. He cites running as “a great way to stay clear and focused” – as his uncle and mother battle stage four cancer.

Silver Lake resident Jesse Andrew. Jesse says, “When I started training, I was barely able to run two blocks!” Seven years ago, he was diagnosed with HIV, and six years ago Jesse lost his partner to HIV. Jesse says, “I run in his memory, I run as a testament to my good health in spite of HIV, and I run just to know that I can do it.”

Los Angeles resident Emily Cohen. Emily, a mother of two who is recovering from drug addiction, completed her first marathon in 2004. Now, more than five years later and at over 40 years old, she asked herself, “Can I do it again?” Within just a few months, Emily completed the Maui Marathon and has been training hard for the LA Marathon which she credits for “saving my marriage, my sanity and maybe my life.”

“Simply put, these runners are heroes,” said APLA Executive Director Craig E. Thompson, “and their efforts are more important than ever.” Thompson cited the recent elimination of California’s entire HIV prevention budget amid a larger $85 million cut to the state’s HIV/AIDS budget.

“These cuts are staggering,” Thompson says, “and they come amid alarming rises in new infection rates.”

“The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles – more than 63,000 – is enough to fill Dodger Stadium,” Thompson adds. “And L.A. sees eight new HIV infections every day. Without the support of these 250 runners, we simply could not meet the growing need.”

APLA provides a range of care for Angelenos who are HIV-positive (including free food, dental care, housing help and more), along with a robust set of HIV prevention programs and aggressive local, state, national and global policy advocacy.

Information about the marathon trainin program is available at www.aidsmarathon.com. Training for the Disneyland Half Marathon begins May 1.

AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, provides bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation. Marking 25 years of service in 2008, APLA is a community-based, volunteer-supported organization with local, national and global reach. For more information, visit www.apla.org.

We’ll have signs, clappers, pom-poms and more at multiple locations. Here’s where we’ll be and when. The numbers refer to the mile markers.

• #10 – “Hollywood Cheering Section:” Hollywood Boulevard between the 101 and Gower, on the northeast corner of Bronson by “Tommy Burgers.” (8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.)

• #15 – “West Hollywood major event point and Cheering Section:” Look for the tent at Santa Monica and Doheny.  This is a major water stop and cheering section.  (7:00 a.m. – tear down at approx 2:00 p.m.)

• #20 – “West LA Cheering Section:” Sawtelle Blvd., just north of Santa Monica Blvd. – see map (10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

#25 – “Santa Monica/FINISH LINE Cheering Section:” Ocean Boulevard near Arizona by the FINISH LINE!  Should be finished by around 3:30 p.m.

Here’s more about the National AIDS Marathon Training Program: