“What a success!” exclaimed Bernard Manyibe, over and over, with bright eyes and a glowing smile. His usually sunny countenance, always lit with a smile, was shining brighter than ever on Saturday morning.

The BGSU/Kenya 5k Benefit Run, the organization he helped found, held their second annual “Race Against AIDS” marathon Saturday.

Manyibe’s infectious jubilance spread to the sweaty faces of the more than 100 participants who helped raise money to fight against AIDS in Kenya through the race. In this east-African nation 700 people die from the disease every day.

Community response to this year’s event was shocking to organization leaders. Last year’s race drew about 40 runners.

“I never expected all these people,” said Joshua Otiso, president of the BGSU/Kenya 5k Benefit Run.

“It’s great to see all these people excited,” he said. “Everyone has such a willing spirit for all those suffering with AIDS.”

To help the cause, runners donated money that served as their entry fee. For $5, students received one ticket to run and for $10 they also received a T-shirt with the “Race Against AIDS” logo on it. Non-students paid $12 for a ticket and $20 for a T-shirt.

All money raised will be given to the Kenyan-based The Youth Vision, which will be used for AIDS prevention education in Kenya. It was a warm, breezy day when the starter pistol was shot and the racers leapt from the starting line on the corner of Merry and Mercer streets. At 10:20 a.m. on the dot, the first 30 or so racers, which included the University’s women’s swim team — minus two who walked because of knee injuries — sprinted ahead. Behind them the joggers steadily moved along, focusing on the cause more than their pace.

The walkers moved steadfastly behind the rest, led by the two injured swimmers and Emma, an 11- week-old girl who would only cry if her mother stopped pushing her in her stroller.

“She’s a lot cuter when she’s walking,” said Jacci Schroeder, joking, a junior nursing major, during one of her daughter’s stationary tantrums. Like all the participants, Schroeder entered the “Race” by donating money to the 5k Benefit Run.

The race began on Merry Street and continued to Thurstin Avenue and Ridge Street. After looping around the road near Doyt Perry Stadium, participants were greeted back at Merry with a cacophony of claps and cheers and water bottles donated by Pepsi, who also sponsored the event.

As people crossed the finish line, the runners, too tired to applaud their fellow racers, left the more than willing members of the 5k Benefit Run to shout and cheer the participants back.

Edgar Ramirez, freshman digital arts major, was the first runner to cross the finish line with a time of just over 17 minutes. Ramirez is a member of the men’s cross country team.

From the start it looked as if Ramirez was hungry to win–he was the only one of a few to stretch beforehand and run shirtless–but he said he was just glad he could help out.

“This wasn’t about me, it’s about the benefit,” he said. “It’s awesome I can help in some way. It’s only a little bit of money, but if people would just give a little it would really help.”

The top three overall winners were awarded medals and Kenyan wood carvings in a small ceremony at the end of the race. Also awarded those prizes were the top three winners in categories that grouped runners by gender and age.

In a mix up, Dana Schultz, senior health promotions major and member of the swim team, was awarded the gold medal for the Women’s ages 40-50 category.

“There’s good news and there’s bad news,” warned Travis Chapin, the organization’s faculty advisor, before the prizes were awarded. “The good news is that the 5k [Benefit Run] set a record time for organizing these awards. The bad news is they may not be organized.”

But Schultz didn’t mind the mix up and was excited about the race that she and her teammates entered as soon as they heard of the opportunity.

“It’s a good cause. We’re raising money to raise awareness about AIDS,” she said. “We’re happy to do any little thing we can do.”

Some participants ran for more personal reasons. Jacob Smith, senior exercise specialist major, seemed to run with a purpose when he won second place overall. He has relatives who have contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

“It’s not just a Kenya problem,” Smith said. “Running is what I do and it’s a good way to help get the problem publicity.”

The money that The Youth Vision receives will go mainly to resource centers in Kenya’s rural areas. The disease has spread the quickest there due to lack of available resources. About 80 percent of health care in Kenya goes to the urban areas even though they only contain 20 percent of Kenya’s people, according to Otiso.

These resource centers educate Kenyans on a variety of things, including AIDS prevention, with television, books and the internet–items rural Kenyans rarely see.

By 11:30 a.m., the race was over and a mass of panting runners huddled in front of the guest of honor, Saleh Rahman, an assistant professor in the Public Health Department. Rahman was invited to speak because it was his encouragement that led the members of the 5k Benefit Run to organize “Race Against AIDS” when they were in his class last year.

“This is the human spirit,” Rahman said. “Throughout mankind, we have been challenged by war, disease and natural disasters–but we have always overcome. This is the history that has started today. We fought and we will fight. We will conquer.”

In all, it seemed like a good day for mankind. Even Emma, whose mom pushed her all the way to last place, appeared to have enjoyed the race.

“She slept the whole way,” her mom said. “She woke up once or twice to look around, but then she just went back to sleep. No crying.”

Neither Emma nor her mother were upset about losing.

“It’s not the purpose of the race, it’s to help people with AIDS,” she said. “Kenya’s society has no chance without the proper tools. Every little bit helps.”

To donate to the organization or for more information contact Joshua at [email protected].