Key facts
- Brent Nicholson Earle ran approximately 9,000 miles across the continental U.S. from March 1986 to October 1987.
- The run, named The American Run for the End of AIDS (A.R.E.A.), aimed to raise awareness for the AIDS epidemic.
- Earle was diagnosed with HIV in 1989, years after beginning his activism.
- He was arrested 12 times for his activism, including a demonstration at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
- Earle's mother, Marion, assisted him by driving a pace car during the run.
Brent Nicholson Earle, an actor living openly in New York City, was challenged by nightclub boss Mel Cheren in the early 1980s to contribute to his community amidst the growing AIDS epidemic. Inspired by the loss of friends and the public's fear and silence surrounding the disease, Earle conceived of an improbable journey: running the perimeter of the continental United States. His "American Run for the End of AIDS" (A.R.E.A.) spanned approximately 9,000 miles, averaging 20 miles a day, from March 1986 to October 1987. Despite lacking sponsors and facing physical hardships and hostility due to the stigma surrounding AIDS, Earle completed the run, aiming to humanize the crisis for a largely indifferent nation. His mother, Marion, provided crucial support by driving a pace car. Earle later joined ACT UP and was arrested multiple times for his advocacy. He was diagnosed with HIV in 1989 and continued his work, combining endurance athletics with AIDS awareness campaigns.