LGBT Center’s Diaz runs 15K for scholarships
EL CENTRO — Rosa Diaz didn’t ask for a cup of coffee during her 15K run on Sunday morning, but someone decided to give her one anyway.
She said about an hour and 45 minutes into her run from Spreckels Sugars to the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center in El Centro, someone chucked a cup of Joe at her as they sped by.
Diaz, who is founder and CEO of IV LGBT Resource Center, wasn’t hit, as the cup landed in front of her. She stepped over it and finished her 9.3mile run.
She said the passing vehicle from where the projectile originated was an older model red pickup with a camper. She said it was occupied by two white men.
“It was aimed at me,” Diaz said of the coffee cup. “I don’t know what offended them — the flags together or something.”
As Diaz ran, another pickup truck, driven by LGBT Center board member Adriana Tanory, drove slowly in front of Diaz to lead the way.
A large LGBT flag and a large American flag stood side by side in the bed of the truck.
The intolerance shown by the passing coffee tosser is just the sort of thing Diaz was aiming to combat on Sunday. She also was running to raise money for the IV LGBT Center’s scholarship program.
The program was created this year. The first two scholarships from the program — the Marilyn Cazares Hope scholarship ($1,500) and the Courageous Liberation scholarship ($1,000) — will be presented on Oct. 10 to two self-identified LGBTQ students.
While these two scholarships are already funded, Diaz used Sunday’s run to raise money for future scholarships.
Diaz’s run was livestreamed on Facebook. Viewers were encouraged to donate via Venmo, Paypal or the center’s website. Diaz reached her goal of raising $2,000.
The center’s scholarship program was created shortly after the center held the “I Am Marilyn March for Trans Lives” in honor of Cazares on Aug. 2.
Diaz said that immediately after the event she received three emails from different donors saying they would like to give money toward a scholarship program.
Thus the center’s scholarship program was born.
Cazares was a 22-year-old Westmorland transgender woman who was murdered in Brawley on July 15.
While the crime remains under investigation, Diaz continues to grieve over the killing.
Diaz even attended Cazares’ wake and funeral.
“I thought that people were going to be speaking highly of her, and nobody spoke,” Diaz said. “There was no music. There was no speaker. And I thought to myself, ‘How could this be?’”
Diaz experienced additional disappointment on Sunday, as she hoped people would be at the finish line to celebrate with her.
While she was able to attract an online audience, only an empty parking lot greeted Diaz as she reached the LGBT Center, which is on Ross Avenue next to Bucklin Park.
Diaz began her run at 6 a.m. at Spreckels, and jogged down the shoulder of southbound Highway 86.
She continued down North Imperial Avenue in El Centro, turned on Ross Avenue and eventually reached the center at 8:05 a.m.
Diaz was able to rely on her years of experience in long-distance running.
“She enjoys running,” Diaz’s daughter, Ariana Davila, said of Diaz. “She feels it as a stress reliever.”
The last time Diaz ran 9.3 miles was six years ago. She ran from her home off Dogwood Road in Brawley to Aten Road.
As she had in years past, Diaz planned to participate in the annual AIDS Run in San Diego with a friend this year. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled this year’s event.
In preparation for Sunday’s run, Diaz practiced running about every other day — though never the full 9.3 miles.
During these test runs, Davila would slowly drive in front of Diaz, while El Centro resident Renee Mendoza would ride on a bike beside Davila.
Mendoza, who is friends with Davila, met Diaz for the first time last year.
During Sunday’s run, Mendoza rode alongside Diaz in support. He had never biked 9.3 miles before.
“There was no doubt in my mind we were never going to stop,” Mendoza, who provided water to Diaz throughout the run, said.
As Tanory drove the truck, Davila sat in the bed and streamed her mother using her cell phone.
Tanory, an El Centro resident, has been a part of the IV LGBT Center for the past six years.
“I can’t, and I’m younger,” Tanory said of Diaz being able to run 15K. “But it takes dedication. She gives me inspiration to do things that scare me. It’s something important for her, and the Center.”
Diaz turns 60 years old this month. There is a discrepancy as far as the date.
Born in Sonora, Mexico, Diaz’s Mexican birth certificate states she was born Sept. 2. However, for an unknown reason, her birthday was listed as Sept. 30 when she obtained legal residency in the United States.
During Sunday’s run, the 60-year-old also had to deal with a bad knee.
“My doctor told me not to run,” Diaz said. “The only time I should run is when someone is chasing me.”
She recalled that she started to feel nauseous as she reached the intersection of South Imperial Avenue and Main Street.
“But it’s about breathing and exhaling through your mouth,” she said.
Davila had no doubt that her mother would go the distance.
“For sure she was going to make it,” Davila said.
“I had to finish,” Diaz said.