Note: A high resolution jpeg image of a manatee is available upon request.

For Immediate Release: April 13, 2006 

Laces tied, sun screen on, water bottle handy – it’s about to start! Ready – set – run! Or walk. The 3rd Annual Save the Manatee 5K Run, 2.2 Mile Fun Walk will take place on Saturday, May 20 at Metro Beach in Harrison Township, Michigan. This special event presented by L’Anse Creuse High School encourages participants to have some fun and help an endangered animal at the same time. All proceeds are donated to Save the Manatee Club in Maitland, Florida.

Lesley Argiri, a biology teacher at L’Anse Creuse High School, organizes the event each year because she has a deep fascination and fondness for Florida’s gentle marine mammals. “I was introduced to manatees on a family vacation to Florida many years ago,” said Argiri. “Hearing about the decline in the manatee population has bothered me over the years and I have been trying to think of a way to help these harmless creatures.”

So Argiri came up with the idea to sponsor a 5K race in her community to help raise money for the endangered species. “As a biology teacher, I thought I could get students, teachers, and parents involved in this project,” she explained. “Many people thought this race would be a “flop” because most Michiganders don’t even know what a manatee is. That response drove me even more to sponsor the race, and it has been a huge success.”

“Lesley has raised $7,500 over the last two years, and this donation to the Club has helped tremendously with our manatee protection efforts,” said Judith Vallee, Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club. “This very special teacher is setting a wonderful example for her students and her community, and is also teaching them about how people working together can really make a difference.”

There are only about 3,000 manatees left in Florida waters. These aquatic vegetarians face numerous human-related threats from collisions with boats, ingestion of fish hooks and entanglement in crab trap and monofilament fishing line. In addition, increasing human population growth has resulted in destruction of their habitat. Back in 1981, singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett and former Florida governor Bob Graham founded Save the Manatee Club, a nonprofit organization. Funds from donations and adoptions go toward numerous manatee conservation and education programs.

Argiri plans well in advance to ensure her 5K Run and Fun Walk for the manatees is a success. There are plenty of trophies, awards and medals to be won. There are sponsor donated door prizes for after the race, too. And each registration packet contains a manatee item or two, compliments of Save the Manatee Club. The early registration entry fee before May 3 is $17 and includes a T-shirt. Late registration is $20 and includes a T-shirt if available. The race starts and finishes inside the Metro Huron-Clinton Metropark, and there’s a $4 entry fee per vehicle. Checks can be made payable to L’Anse Creuse High School and sent to: Lesley Argiri, 37855 De Prez Ct., Harrison Twp., MI 48045.

“We expect over 200 people to take part in this year’s event, but it would be so nice if we could increase those numbers and do even more to help the manatees,” said Argiri.

For more information on the Save the Manatee 5K Run, e-mail Lesley Argiri at largiri1@hotmail.com. To learn more about manatees, go to Save the Manatee Club's Manatee Info page.

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