Will Run for Manatees
 |
Photo courtesy Lesley Argiri.
|
For further information, contact:
Janice Nearing,
Director of Public Relations
Save the Manatee Club
Phone: (407) 539-0990
E-mail: jnearing@
savethemanatee.org |
Lesley Argiri
L’Anse Creuse High School
37855 De Prez Ct.
Harrison Twp., MI 48045
Phone: (586) 783-6729
E-mail: largiri1@hotmail.com
|
For Immediate Release: April 16, 2009
Note: A high resolution jpeg (300 dpi) of a manatee image and last year’s race are available upon request.
“We love manatees here in Michigan,” says Lesley Argiri, a biology teacher at L’Anse Creuse High School in Harrison Township. Argiri and her students from “The Great Lakes State” are in the home stretch preparing for the 6th annual Save the Manatee 5K Run, 2 Mile Fun Walk, to be held on May 16th at the Metro Huron-Clinton Metropark in Mt. Clemens. Proceeds from the race will be donated to Save the Manatee Club, a national nonprofit organization located in Maitland, Florida, whose mission is to help protect endangered manatees and their aquatic habitat.
“The reason I have held the race for the past six years is because I love doing things that will make a difference,” explains Argiri. “Many people here have come to “expect” participating in the Save the Manatee run each spring. I feel this race has brought awareness to what manatees are, how humans have impacted their environment, and what things can be done to protect them.”
Argiri plans fundraisers throughout the year to help bring in donations, including car washes and other activities. Over the last five years, Argiri’s efforts have raised $26,000 for the Club. “With the shape the Earth is in right now, I, along with my students, feel we’re doing something positive and helpful for the planet,” says Argiri.
Patrick Rose, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club says that Lesley, along with the faculty members and students of L’Anse Creuse High School are truly inspirational in their ongoing efforts to help with Save the Manatee Club’s conservation cause. “We are extremely grateful to Lesley for her hard work, and to everyone in Michigan who rise early on a Saturday morning to come out to participate in the annual May race. Because of their caring sacrifices, both individual manatees and the entire endangered population’s chances of survival have been greatly enhanced.”
Race participants receive a registration packet filled with special items and coupons, and there are a variety of trophies, medals, awards, and door prizes to be won. New to the race this year – chip timing, a USTAF certified course, and a special pre-race presentation from Save the Manatee Club’s staff biologist, Artie Wong, who will also start the race, run in it, and cheer on the runners as they race to help the manatees.
Early registration before May 4th costs $17 for walkers and $20 for runners, which includes a t-shirt. After May 5th, it costs $20 for walkers and $25.00 for runners to register, and includes a t-shirt if available. The entry fee does not include the park entrance fee of $4.00 per vehicle. The race starts and finishes inside the Metro Huron-Clinton Metropark. Checks can be made payable to L’Anse Creuse High School and sent to: Lesley Argiri, 37855 De Prez Ct., Harrison Twp., MI 48045.
Save the Manatee Club was started in 1981 by singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham.
For more information on the Save the Manatee 5K Run, e-mail Lesley at largiri1@hotmail.com.
###
Return to the Manatee News page
