Page 11 - 8-7-15 Friday's Edition Updated

Local
Annual Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Walk Planned
Former Middleton, University Of Florida Track Star Loses Battle With Cancer
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Saturday, September 19th, members of Hands of Hope: Sickle Cell Awareness Foundation, Inc., will host their Annual Sickle Cell Awareness Walk. The event will take place at Rowlett Park, Shelter #218. It will begin at 8 a.m.
The Walk will take place at Rowlett Park, 2501 River Hills Drive, Shelter #218. The walk is being sponsored by Hands Of Hope- SCA, Inc., and the Sickle Cell Educa- tion Foundation.
Ms. Cecelia Mitchell, founder and president of Hands of Hope- SCA, Inc., said, “This is our Second Annual Walk. Our goal is to get the information out there because there are so many people who are misin- formed about the Sickle Cell Dis- ease.
“Last year, more than 200 peo- ple participated in the event. This year, we hope to have 300 or more people.”
In addition to the walk, the event will feature “Spot, the Wonder Dog,” the organization’s mascot; music will be provided by DJ Smellsogood; face-painting, games and food.
Representatives from Safe Link, the Hillsborough County Health De- partment, Tampa Fire & Rescue, USF Bay Area Early Steps Program, Moffitt Cancer Center, vendors and other community organizations.
CECELIA MITCHELL
Early Bird registration ends on August 31, 2015. Those who register by mail prior to this date will be eli- gible for the drawing of a $100 visa gift card. General registration ends on September 4, 2015, and names will be entered into a drawing for a $50.00 gift card. The winners of the gift cards must be present to win.
Ms. Mitchell said, “Most peo- ple are not aware that September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. This Walk is in support of Sickle Cell Awareness. Those wish- ing to participate can walk either 1.1 mile or 1.9 miles.
“Those who don’t want to walk can just come out and support the walkers.”
Anyone wishing to register on line can visit Evenbrite.com, and look for Hands of Hope --- Sickle Cell Awareness Walk.
For more information about Sickle Cell Anemia or the walk, con- tact Ms. Cecelia Mitchell, (813) 417-1014; or Cecelia- mitchell@handsofhope-sca.org.
Former Middleton High School and University of Florida track star, Beau- fort A. Brown, Jr., lost his battle with liver cancer this week. He was 62 years old.
Brown was a 1971 grad- uate of Middleton High School, and a member of their football and track and field teams. It was his ath- letic ability in track and field that got him into the University of Florida, where he set records as a 600 yard runner.
Anyone who was a part of Middleton track and field during the late 1960s and early 1970s, remembers Brown as the man who did everything wearing his trademark sunglasses.
After graduating from the University of Florida, Brown worked for an in- surance company, then a training center in Alachua County. Later, he returned to Tampa where he found employment at Plant High School as an instructor and track and field coach. He then went on to coach at Booker T. Washington.
Brown met his wife, Barbara while he was in college. The couple has
BEAUFORT A. BROWN, JR.
been married over 40 years and have three children to- gether.
“Beaufort enjoyed spending time with his Mid- dleton classmates, and at- tended the birthday celebration for the Class of 1971.
“My husband was an avid student of the Bible. He enjoyed studying religion, and was a teaching elder. He was a sports fanatic, and enjoyed all sports.”
Mrs. Brown said her husband was modest, and never arrogant. She also de-
scribed him as a great man to be around and was very courageous.
“Beaufort got sick in December, and was diag- nosed with cancer in Janu- ary. He fought every step of the way.
“Beaufort was very ap- preciative of the people who helped him along the way like his track coach at Florida, Jimmy Carnes. Carnes was instrumental in promoting Beaufort as an exceptional athlete.”
Mrs. Brown said she’s heard all the stories about her husband always wear- ing sunglasses, and said that trend didn’t stop after they were married.
“Those sunglasses be- came a part of his persona, and people identified him by the sunglasses.
“They were so much a part of his personality, I’ve decided to bury him in them. I think that’s a lasting memory of a great man that everybody felt close to.”
Beginning at 5 p.m. Fri- day (today), there will be a viewing at Wilson’s Funeral Home. On Saturday at noon, there will be a service held in the chapel at Wil- son’s Funeral Home.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-A