Sea-turtle supporters run for fun and a cause

+ Sea-turtle supporters run for fun and a cause
The 25th annual Run for the Turtles event took place Saturday, April 2, on Siesta Key Beach. The race had a large turnout with 1,005 runners and walkers who participated in the event, plus friends and family supporters who cheered on the participants.

There was a 1-mile Fun Run followed by a 5K. The fun-run winners were Alexander Zarris, 13, and Anna Johnson, 17. The overall female winner for the 5K was Heather Butcher, 38, with a time of 18:31, and the overall male winner for the 5K was Jim McQuade, 41, with a time of 16:42.

Mote was the main sponsor for the event, with partners including the Manasota Track Club and Sarasota County Parks and Recreation. This year’s event also honored Longboater Michael T. Martin, the event’s longtime sponsor who died last year.

The funds raised at the annual event go toward Mote’s sea-turtle research. This is Mote’s 30th year of being involved in local sea-turtle conservation efforts.