Multi-species Mascot Race raises awareness for Mote’s Run for the Turtles
Mascots of all sizes, shapes and species raced down Siesta Beach on March 1 to promote Mote Marine Laboratory’s upcoming Run for the Turtles. A pirate mascot took first place among the motley crew.
Marty the Marauder, mascot for the Bradenton Marauders, outran six other mascots: Kid Cow from Chick-fil-A on Fruitville Road, Petunia the Rescue Cat from Cat Depot, the Newbalance Newbie, and Mote mascots Gilly the Shark, Ollie the Otter and Shelley the Sea Turtle.
Left: Marty the Marauder won the mascot race on March 1, which raised awareness for Mote's Run for the Turtles.
Right: Shelley the Sea Turtle represents Mote's Run for the Turtles.
Shelley ran the race at a turtle’s steady pace and shook hands with fellow mascots who raised awareness for her species. Mote’s 30th Annual Run for the Turtles, a 5K/1-mile fundraiser on April 2 at Siesta Public Beach, raises funds for Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. Mote coordinates conservation of endangered sea turtles along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches.
Social media: #RunfortheTurtles and #TurtleRun30
“Run for the Turtles is the longest-standing fundraiser for Mote; we have been monitoring and protecting endangered sea turtles along local beaches for 34 years, and the Run raises thousands of dollars each year for this important service,” said Paula Clark, race director for Run for the Turtles. “It’s wonderful that so many local organizations helped us spread the word through this mascot race. They made us laugh while doing some serious good.”
Mote mascots Ollie the Otter and Gilly the Shark earned the biggest laughs when they took a tumble mid-race. Some say they might have led the pack, if only the race were underwater.
About Mote’s 30th Annual Run for the Turtles
Mote’s Run for the Turtles will take place on April 2 and will kick off with on-site registration at 6:30 a.m. at the gazebo south of the pavilion on Siesta Public Beach. The 1-Mile Fun Run or Walk will start at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K Manasota Track Club-Sanctioned Run will start at 8 a.m. People of all ages can register, and young people can make an especially big difference, starting now.
Funds raised by Mote supporters ages 23 and younger during and surrounding the Run will be matched up to $40,000 in 2016. This match is possible thanks to Positive Tracks, a national, youth-centric nonprofit, that has partnered with Mote for the second year to help young people get active and give back. Local funding partner Gulf Coast Community Foundation is providing a $25,000 grant, empowering Positive Tracks to enhance its efforts in southwest Florida and amplify its impact for Mote.
Funds from the Run and youth fundraiser will support Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. Individual youths and groups from schools, colleges, sports teams, clubs and community organizations can develop their own active and creative fundraising projects, starting now.
To get involved, please contact Mote’s Positive Tracks Coordinator, Chris Pfahler at chris@chrispfahler.com.
To make a gift supporting Mote Marine Laboratory’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program, please contact Kate Knepper at: 941-388-4441, ext. 393 or kknepper@mote.org
Learn more about Positive Tracks at: www.positivetracks.org
Learn more about Gulf Coast Community Foundation at: www.gulfcoastcf.org
