The inaugural South Carolina Aquarium Turtle Trek, a 5K Sunset Beach Run, as well as a Kids Fun Run, will take place Saturday, September 10 on Isle of Palms. The activities are:
- 5-6 pm Packet Pickup
- 6 pm Kids fun run
- 6:30pm 5K beach run
- 8 pm After Party and awards at the Windjammer
The 5K beach run and kids’ fun run will take place at Isle of Palms County Park, located at 1 14th Ave, Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
The After Party and awards presentation will be held at the Windjammer, located at 1008 Ocean Boulevard, Isle of Palms, South Carolina.
The Turtle Trek will raise awareness for Sea Turtle Recovery, a new exhibit opening in spring 2017, and the Aquarium’s conservation initiatives. All proceeds from the Turtle Trek will support the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center.
Worldwide, all seven species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered, four of which are found locally: the loggerhead, the Kemp’s ridley, the green, and the leatherback. To help ensure that sea turtles have a future in our oceans, the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center aids sick and injured sea turtles in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Sea turtles arrive at the hospital suffering from bacterial or fungal infections, shock from being exposed to cold temperatures, injury from a boat strike or shark bite, or ingestion of plastic from the ocean. The staff veterinarian diagnoses each turtle and works with Sea Turtle Hospital staff and volunteers to provide treatment and rehabilitative care.
To date, they have rehabilitated and released nearly 200 sea turtles. With your support, they can continue efforts to sustain these species into the next century and beyond.
For more information and to sign up go to: http://goraceproductions.com/races/2016-south-carolina-aquarium-turtle-trek-5k/
– Submitted by Gary Fansler