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Jennifer Livingston, an NYPD policewoman was injured after being accepted to the Boston Marathon. She wrote to the Boston Marathon organizers and Boston Police Department that she wanted her running number 11590 to cross the finish line with me, Richard Brodsky wearing it. Her request was denied.
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Richard and Jodi Brodsky finishing the 2015 Miami Marathon. I will do everything I can to help eliminate the stigma of AIDS. I want others living with HIV and cancer to live a happier, fuller life and that would include running or walking. I have written numerous appeal letters to the Boston Marathon organizers and I have been told on three occasions the only way I can run is if I raised money for an approved Boston Marathon charity. ($3,000 - $5,000)
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Reverend Wanda Faye Myers also wrote a compelling letter to the Mayor about how she believes that my running the Boston Marathon would help others living with HIV and cancer by inspiring hope. Her submission included letters from the late Senator Ted Kennedy wishing me well and letters and comments from Presidents, local politicians, diplomats, doctors and teachers. Her request was denied.
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HERE IS HOW YOU CAN HELP ME HELP OTHERS AND FULFILL POLICEWOMAN JENNIFER LIVINGSTON'S WISH
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Please read Policewoman Jennifer Livingston's heartfelt appeal and Reverend Wanda's letter about why they think I should be running the Boston Marathon. Also, there have been runners in the past who have run Boston who did not qualify and did not raise $3,000 - $5,000 for charity.
On behalf of Richard Brodsky... "My name is Jennifer Livingston and I am a policewoman with the NYPD. I qualified to run the 2017 Boston Marathon but due to an injury, I cannot run this year. I had really been looking forward to running Boston to compete with many of the best marathon runners from around the world.
I came across a post on social media of a marathon runner seeking permission to run the marathon. After hearing Richard Brodsky's story, I felt his need and desire to run the 2017 Boston Marathon. Could you possibly allow Richard to run in my place. Richard said if you need him to pay a separate marathon entry fee, he would do that.
I'm a patrol officer in the 71st precinct now. I'm restricted and work inside at 120 until I'm medically cleared. I love my job and my 11 year old son who is autistic. As you know I love running and yes I want my number crossing that finish line and the media should know how devastated I feel and how I should be able to select a person such as yourself to run in my place. It's crazy. NYC did it when a cop died two weeks before 2016 and they transferred his bib. There should be exceptions and the media should hear your story; you do deserve this and this spot opened up and it's for a reason. I'm restricted to my house and I'm in pain. If you need to reach me, here is my
e-mail address."
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My (Jennifer Livingston) 2017 Boston Marathon acceptance letter, running bib 11590. Says Richard, 'the coincidence is uncanny as I receive thousands of dollars in toy donations from Babies R Us (zip code 11590) and I picked up toys two days ago, the toys are donated in conjunction with K.I.D.S/Fashion Delivers
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I finished first in the law enforcement division in the 2015 Boston Run to Remember.
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my Boston Marathon qualifier, 2015 NYC Marathon
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Reverend Wanda Faye Myer's Letter to the Mayor of Boston
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Here is how WE can help others living with HIV and cancer.
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My name is Richard Brodsky and I'm President of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation. I'm HIV+ since 1997, a brain cancer survivor since 2002, and a marathon runner for life. At age 63, I finished the July 24, 2016 Nova Scotia Marathon in 03:53:30; that time should have qualified me to run the 2017 Boston Marathon by 90 seconds. But since there were too many fast runners, the qualifying time was cut back to 03:52:51. I missed qualifying by only 39 seconds due to my ankle timing bracelet falling off at mile 1. The course was still crowded near the start and I had to run back 20 feet to reattach the bracelet which easily took 39+ seconds. At age 64, I was rejected from running the Boston Marathon.
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The local media featured Richard and Jodi Brodsky running the July 24, 2016 Nova Scotia Marathon, photo: courtesy of Kathy Johnson
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I think I'm in a unique position to help people living with HIV & cancer by running the Boston Marathon. Here's why:
- To offer hope to people living with HIV and cancer.
- To raise awareness to Government, business, and society that people living with so-called fatal illnesses can lead a more productive life if we lead a healthy lifestyle and have access to medical care & medicine.
- The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation sponsors the only AIDS run or walk on Long Island. June 11 will be our 10th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk. Last year we donated $74,000 in toys, cash + clothing to organizations supporting children and people living with HIV and cancer on Long Island.
- My Foundation will also be sponsoring the 12th annual World AIDS Marathon in Kisumu, Kenya. Since 2006 we have sponsored 25 orphan dinner dances for 7,800 Kenyan orphans; since 2011 we have provided medical care for 1,008 Kenyan orphans and saved the lives of hundreds of orphans.
- I've been saying for the longest time that people, even those living with HIV and cancer, can reverse their aging process if they lead a healthy lifestyle. 7 of my last 9 marathons have been my fastest since my cancer diagnosis.
- My wife and I do everything we can to help eliminate the stigma of AIDS, see photo
at top of page
start of the 2016 World AIDS Marathon, World AIDS Day, Kisumu, Kenya. Richard & Jodi Brodsky pictured front row center.
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orphan dinner dance at Mama Pilista Bonyo Memorial Health Center in Masara, Kenya on November 29, 2016. Richard & Jodi pictured in yellow shirts.
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Start of the 8th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk. Join us for the 10th annual 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk, June 11, 2017, Baldwin Park, Long Island's only AIDS run or walk, REGISTER NOW!
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$74,000 in toys, cash and clothing was donated to local organizations on Long Island helping kids and people living with HIV and cancer.
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The Boston Marathon organizers have written me three times that the only way I can run the April 17, 2017 Boston Marathon is to raise $3,000 - $5,000 for a Boston Marathon approved charity. I wrote back saying that my Foundation needs to focus 100% of its time to raise money for its own Events. I've also been told by an excellent source that the best way of getting into the marathon is if the mayor makes the request.
The Boston mayor's name is Martin J. Walsh.
You can also contact the Boston Marathon organizers directly by writing to Barbara Sicuso by e-mail
or Boston Athletic Association, 185 Dartmouth Street 6th floor, Boston, MA 02116, phone: 617-236-1652. If you could write to both the mayor and marathon organizers in one e-mail that would be ideal.
Or if you know the chief of police; a local councilman; health, sports, or features editor; head of an AIDS or cancer organization, hospital, place of worship or college; or anyone else who might have some interest in my running the Boston Marathon, kindly contact those groups and individuals, too, and ask them to contact the mayor and Boston Marathon organizers.
Your obvious question should be, "What is so important about running Boston?" My wife has run Boston since 2013 and I sit there watching 40,000 runners pass. I never thought I could qualify and it's kind of like being a mountain climber where you fly to Nepal to climb Mt. Everest and you forget to pack your climbing gear for five years in a row and your stuck at the bottom for days. And it does seem like days for me.
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Thanks for keeping up with the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation's work.
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 5K AIDS Cancer Run Walk
World Aids Marathon Page
Richard M Brodsky Foundation
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Sincerely,
Richard Brodsky
Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
write me
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please share your thoughts.
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© 2015. A
