Loggerhead Marinelife Center will kick-off Earth Day weekend and the 9th Annual TurtleFest with an inaugural four mile race along A1A through Juno Beach at 6 p.m. on April 20, 2012, with registration beginning at 5 p.m. The first-ever “Run 4 the Sea” will also feature a one-mile fun run for children. Registration for the Run 4 the Sea is $25 through April 16, 2012 and $30 from April 17 to April 20. Registration for the Kids Fun Run is $10. All race proceeds will benefit Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s education, research and rehabilitation programs.
All participants will enjoy post-race food and drinks, as well as a musical performance by up-and-coming pop musician Greg Hansen. Pre-registered race participants will also receive a race t-shirt and all Kid’s Fun Run participants will receive a medal. Awards will be given for: the top three male and female finishers in 15 age categories; the top three overall men and women; and the top three men and women ages 40 and up. Town of Juno Beach Town Manager Joseph F. Lo Bello will serve as Race Grand Marshal.
Run 4 the Sea is the kick-off of a series of Earth Day events being held at Loggerhead Marinelife Center. For the first time, Loggerhead Marinelife Center has joined forces with Earth Day Network to host its annual TurtleFest. Each year, the event draws thousands to Juno Beach and Loggerhead Park for a day focused on conservation and fun. This year’s event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2012, and will feature performances by Making Faces, Roots Shakedown, The Hip Abduction, William Kimball, and the Atlantic Arts Youth Rock Band Ensemble. There will also be fine art, a student art exhibit, children’s games, shopping, and a Global Village where guests will learn about the steps different countries are taking to promote conservation. The following day, Sunday, April 22, 2012, Loggerhead Marinelife Center will host a beach cleanup at 8 a.m. for members of the community.
The race, festival and beach cleanup are all ways for local community members to celebrate Earth Day. The first Earth Day, held on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, celebrated around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities.
Run 4 the Sea and TurtleFest are being presented by FPL, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, PGA Resort & Spa, and Waste Management. The Global Village/Kid’s Fun Run sponsor is The Gardens Mall. Other sponsors include Running Sports, Starbucks, and SunTrust Bank. To sign up or learn more, visit Running Sports, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, marinelife.org/run or active.com.