The All-Too-Brief Santa Speedo Run

"Less was more" at the Santa Speedo Run in Gulfport on Saturday. Unless, you're referring to the $30,331.67 that was raised at the event.

About 130 participants and many more onlookers gathered in downtown Gulfport for the second annual event. The runners wore bright, holiday red Speedos and nothing else, other than running shoes and, in some cases, a Santa cap or reindeer antlers. It was quite a sight -- and all for a good cause.

The Santa Speedo Run was a fun run to help raise money for the Brighter Seasons For Children, a program within AIDS Service Association of Pinellas Inc. (ASAP). Runners weren't timed and everyone recieved a finishers medal.

Organizer Jay Aller said last year's event had about 30 runners. This year, 130 people signed, most of them men in tiny red boy bikinis. Aller was overwhelmed by the response and even more "wowed" by the donations.

The group hoped to raise $20,000 for ASAP, but instead brought in more than $30,000.

Gulfport Patch and Dunedin Patch participated . . . though the Patch team did not wear the scanty red Speedos that have made this run such a high profile event. In fact, Speedos are not mandatory to run, just highly encouraged.

Take a look at our photos and please, upload your own from the event!

About ASAP and Brighter Seasons For Children

The program helps provide holiday food packages, gifts for children, backpacks for school and school supplies and more for families and children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS living in Pinellas County.

The yearly run is a unique way to build awareness of the many children in our area infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.