Compassion wins out

King Stephen ‘Sunshine’ Sunday

BY C.S. GILBERT

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

 

Fantasy Fest 2013 King Stephen “Sunshine” Sunday grew up in a suburb of Houston, Texas, and engineered his move to Key West, after visiting since 1995, by winning a transfer in early 2009 from Walgreen’s West Palm Beach operation to the drugstore giant’s N. Roosevelt Blvd. branch.

It was that same, familiar story: “the island fell in love with me and I fell in love with the island,” Sunday said, and he soon became involved with the community. He credits divine intervention and reports that his initial goal was to get rid of his car “and get me a scooter,” which he quickly accomplished.

By 2010, people had heard “my story about my 40-plus friends (lost to AIDS). My late mother was an AIDS activist in Houston, behind the scenes, and people were recruiting” for candidates for Fantasy Fest royalty. “I don’t think they could find anyone to run,” he said with a laugh. “I was a sacrificial lamb.”

Sunday was, however, a particularly determined and devoted lamb. He ran for the throne in 2010 and 2011 and won the crown in 2013.

He recalls those campaigns with joy and pride. “Out of that come wonderful friendships,” he said, especially singling out Christopher Ewell and his family, the staff of AIDS Help, his employer and his campaign colleagues/courtiers for thanks and praise.

It’s all about compassion, Sunday said. “Compassion was there. My parents taught me to take care of the community. All three runs were about compassion. I certainly didn’t come here to retire!” he smiled.

“I’m very proud of what I’ve raised. Do I know the final number? I don’t. All I need to know is that I raised enough to help people, especially running three times.”

Last year’s winning campaign included contributions from throughout the state and the country: Mainland Florida, Iowa, Texas. “A family in Houston opened their home” for a fundraiser, Sunday said, estimating that all told there were 30-40 events in his support, counting all-candidate events. “You have to jump out of the box of Key West,” he advised, joking, “You got to be crazy to do it and crazy not to do it.”

His favorite event, he said, was the Red Shirt Run, a 5K race that attracted almost 200 entrants of all ages, some from out of town. All received educational packets about the disease and the organization. “This year they’re bringing it back as an all-candidate event,” with assistance from the local company, Theme Runs, producers of such events as the tu-tu race. He is also proud of the Toys for Tots and Easter Basket campaigns supported by Walgreen’s.

AIDS Help continues to be relevant, Sunday said. “There’s no cure for AIDS. It’s important for youth to know. Just because you can take a pill — it just keeps it at bay. The goal is to get it down to zero. One day there’ll be a cure and we’ll be down to zero. But by all means the fight is not over.”

 

 

 

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]