The Optimist Club annual Race Against AIDS is to take place on Sunday November 25 and participants are invited from Anguilla and the neighbouring islands. In addition there are some 16 athletes coming from Sweden with others from Germany and the USA as well as St Maarten, St Barths and Antigua.

L-R: Arnie Hodge, Emma Ferguson, Charmaine Sasso and Jerome Roberts

All levels of athletes can compete. There is the ½ Marathon that starts from the Agricultural Department and goes to Meads Bay and back. The prizes for this race are US$1000.00, $500.00 and $250.00 for the first three males and females. There is also a 10k race to Bethel Church and back and a 5k walk or run to the Highway Tyre Shop. Trophies and medals will be presented to the winners of the 10k and 5k races. Races all start at 6.30 a.m. at the Agricultural Department grounds. Interested persons can register online at www.optimstaxa.org.ai or get a form from one of the members of the Optimist Club.

On Thursday November 15, Flag Luxury Properties presented the Optimists with a cheque for US$2000.00 as their support for the event. In presenting the cheque, Director of Public Relations, Arnie Hodge, said that his company is proud to be a part of the event this year as there is a need for the problem of AIDS in Anguilla, and the region, to be highlighted. He pointed out that Flag has already donated funds to the National AIDS Committee for activities on World AIDS Day.

Optimist Emma Ferguson, who chairs the Race against AIDS Committee, thanked Flag for its support. She urged Anguillians and others in the neighbouring islands to participate in the event. President of the Anguilla Optimist Club, Jerome Roberts, added his thanks to Flag Luxury Properties and to the other sponsors that include the National Bank of Anguilla, Scotiabank, Alex Richardson, Social Security, Richards Architects, the Government of Anguilla and the Anguilla Great House. Roberts stressed the importance of the whole nation looking at the AIDS issue and its related problems as there is no end in sight to the pandemic. He urged persons to come out and support the event.

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