{"id":2142,"date":"2023-03-15T11:12:58","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T15:12:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mote.org\/?p=2142"},"modified":"2024-02-08T11:21:27","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T16:21:27","slug":"floody-wins-mascot-race-promoting-motes-run-for-the-turtles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mote.org\/news\/floody-wins-mascot-race-promoting-motes-run-for-the-turtles\/","title":{"rendered":"Floody wins Mascot Race promoting Mote’s Run for the Turtles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mascots of all sizes, shapes and species raced down Siesta Beach on March 15 to promote Mote Marine Laboratory\u2019s 37th Annual Run for the Turtles.<\/p>\n

Floody, mascot for Sarasota County, outran seven other mascots: Cali and Petunia from Cat Depot; Chick-fil-A Cow and Kid Cow from Chick-fil-A; Rocky D. Bull from USF Sarasota-Manatee; and Mote\u2019s own Gilly the shark and Shelley the sea turtle.<\/p>\n

Gilly took a bit of a tumble tripping on his own feet and Shelley ran the race at a turtle\u2019s steady pace and shook hands with fellow mascots who raised awareness for her species. Mote\u2019s 37th Annual Run for the Turtles, a 5K\/1-mile fundraiser on April 1 at Siesta Public Beach, raises funds for Mote\u2019s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program. Mote coordinates conservation of endangered sea turtles along 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cRun for the Turtles is the longest-standing fundraiser for Mote; we have been monitoring and protecting endangered sea turtles along local beaches for 41 years, and the Run raises thousands of dollars each year for this important service,\u201d said Dr. Jake Lasala, Mote\u2019s Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program Manager. \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful that so many local organizations helped us spread the word through this mascot race. They made us laugh while doing some serious good.\u201d<\/p>\n