Mote’s 39th Annual Run for the Turtles draws over a thousand runners to support sea turtles

Today, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium’s 39th Annual Run for the Turtles welcomed nearly 1,100 runners to Siesta Key Beach and virtual tracks around the globe. Participants took part in the 1-mile fun run and the Manasota Track Club-sanctioned 5k, showing up in support of Mote’s longstanding sea turtle conservation efforts. This year’s Run was another major success.

While the final fundraising total is still being calculated, the event is expected to bring in approximately $45,000 to support Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program (STCRP), which monitors 35 miles of nesting beaches daily during sea turtle nesting season and studies sea turtles through tagging and satellite tracking.For nearly four decades, this event has helped fuel our mission to protect sea turtles in the wild,” said Melissa Macksey, Senior Biologist and Conservation Manager of Mote’s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. “It’s inspiring to see our community show up year after year to support these incredible animals and the science that safeguards their future.”