HIV/AIDS triathlon a success

Organizers of an HIV/AIDS triathlon, which was originally scheduled to take place in December 2011, are reporting success as the event was held on the weekend.

Clear skies covered the town of Portsmouth allowing participants and supporters to fully participate in the event, which brought to an end events for World AIDS Day, organized by the HIV and AIDS Response Programme and the US Peace Corps.

The entire triathlon took under one hour (56:33 minutes) with a 0.6 mile swim from Cabrits to Purple Turtle Beach, a 6-mile bike ride from Purple Turtle Beach to Dos Dane and a 3-mile run from Dos Dane to Benjamin Park.

After the relay triathlon, Julie Frampton of the HIV/AIDS Response Unit stressed the importance of remaining faithful to one partner, as well as the proper and consistent use of condoms in one’s attempt to curtail the spread of the deadly disease.

Coinciding with the triathlon was a Health Festival organized by Planned Parenthood, Oh La La Resort, HIV and AIDs Response Programme, Monster Energy Drink, Asher Thomas, Electric Swag from Grand Bay, Face Painting, Events & Things and the Dominica Red Cross.

Sponsors of the triathlon were the First Caribbean International Bank of Dominica, J. Asptaphans & Co Ltd., Jolly’s Pharmacy, Whitchurch IGA, Loubiere Water, Monster energy drink, Events and Things, L’express Des Iles, the Royal Bank of Canada in Dominica, A.N.R Trading, Face Painting, The Glam, 365 MMP, Best Price Best Quality, Krazy Tees, The Sign Man and Mr. Mills Snacks.

The HIV/AIDS Triathlon was organized by Julie Frampton and Angie Desabeyi of the HIV and AIDS Response Unit and, Amirh Morgan, Alex Sheldon and Amieh Abu-tayeh of the U.S Peace Corps.

The winners of each leg of the triathlon were Samieh Abu-tayeh for swimming, Joseph Bazil for biking and Lester Bazil for running.