People can register for the event – which includes a 3.5 km fun run and a 10.5 km run – by contacting Khun Kittipan on Tel: +6689-733-8830 or at the Concierge in the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa lobby, between September 9th and September 13th from 9 am to 6 pm. Tickets for the 3.5 km and the 10.5 km. run are both priced at THB 300 per category per person, inclusive of a running shirt.
The event program on Sunday September 14th begins with registration from 4.30 am to 5.45 am, to be followed by a keynote address from Phuket Governor. At 6 am the 10.5 km run will start, with the 3.5 km run starting 10 minutes later. The awards presentation ceremony will take place at 7 am, along with environmental activities.
For both runs, trophies will be awarded for 1st-5th place finishers and cash prizes of THB 800-2,000 for 1st-3rd place for “Overall” finishers (male and female category). The first 700 registered runners will receive a running shirt and medal, and there will be a trophy for the hotel and running club with the most participants. There will also be a gift voucher lucky draw for all participants
The 10th Annual Turtle Fun Run and Mini Marathon – while also aiming to encourage in people a healthy lifestyle – is a collaborative effort by the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa and its partners to raise funds and awareness of the conservation work done by the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) and its ‘The Injured Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program’ to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured turtles, dolphins, whales and dugongs.
Additionally, part of the fun raised on the event will support the foundation and hotels’ newest project, The Marine Turtle Shelter & Education Center, which will serve as a home for injured turtles who are unable to return to the sea. Once in operation in April of 2015, it will welcome four injured turtles including ‘Tommy the Turtle’ who was born nine months ago at the PMBC, with no eyes
Phuket’s endangered sea turtles – which use Mai Khao Beach as a nesting ground - are facing multiple threats, their numbers have severely depleted in recent years. Commercial fishing kills thousands of them every year, while many more die from eating or becoming trapped in plastic debris littering the ocean.
For more information about the foundation, please contact Khun Kittipan, Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation Manager, via email [email protected] or call +6689-733-8830.