Fantasy Fest is Key West’s equivalent to the New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. Fantasy Fest week kicks off with the crowning of the King & Queen on October 22nd. Five candidates compete to see who raises the most money for AIDS Help, our local AIDS/HIV support agency. The king candidate and queen candidate with the highest total are crowned.

Stephen Sunday known as “Sunshine” is running King of Fantasy Fest 2010. He was born and raised in Texas, where he graduated Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas in 1984. In 1991 he moved to West Palm Beach. In 2009, Sunshine transferred to Key West with his job at Walgreen’s where he is the Liquor Manager.

Sunshine decided to run for King this year in memory of my 40 friends who lost their lives to AIDS and to honor the memory of his mother’s strong support and help that provided for AIDS patients. He also deeply cares about AIDS Help and our community. He is not a stranger to helping victims of HIV & AIDS. He sewed and designed many quilts for Aids Memorial Quilt and while in Palm Beach, he raised funds and collected food for the Comprehensive AIDS Program.

His other passion has been community based beautification efforts. Sunshine was the President of his neighborhood for 2 ½ years in the Historic District of Northboro Park and was Citizen of the Year of that District in 2002. He designed the 9/11 Remembrance Memorial and was Chairman of the Mayor’s Beautification Advisory Committee for six years. Primary among the things he wants to as a resident here is working with the “Keep America Beautiful” Program to start a beautification program in Key West and in the Keys. This program will be called “Keep the Keys Beautiful”. For more information about Sunshine’s achievements, campaign events and how you can help go to:www.sunshineforking.com

I have not known Sunshine long but this I can tell you - his nickname fits! It is unusual for someone to run for King or Queen of Fantasy Fest unless they have lived here for a while. The call came out that we were short of candidates due to someone else needing to drop out at the last minute. Sunshine responded to the call with the warmth and sincerity that exudes his person. As caring member of this community and a former reigning queen myself, I am deeply grateful.

Please be sure to have some fun, support the candidates by attending their events and donating what you can to help our brothers and sisters who are suffering from AIDS/HIV.