As the Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival draws near, it is worth noting that it is the pinnacle event for fundraising for the Run for the Reef initiative as well as the only marathon dedicated to raising money for the Great Barrier Reef.

The 2015 GBRM Festival will be held on 1st November.  Early bird registrations expire today 11 September. REGISTER NOW.

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In 2014 the Marathon Festival saw a need to give back to the Great Barrier Reef, not only to preserve the environment for future generations but to also establish a sense of ownership between the reef and the rest of the country. In collaboration with James Cook University the “Run for the Reef” initiative was born and the JCU Great Barrier Reef Research Fund was established as the Marathon Festival’s charitable beneficiary. The Fund is maintained under the auspice of JCU and is governed by a board. 

Backing this commitment to the Run for the Reef initiative, the Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival will proudly donate $20 from each registration in the 21km, 42km and 74km events, a commitment which raised over $15,000 in 2014.  This resulted in The Minke Whale Project being able to tag and track three more Minke Whales in the Coral Sea. 

This year all the funds raised by the event, including individuals who raise money via the Everyday Hero platform, will go to the following projects:

• The Elimination of the Crown of Thorns Starfish
• Assessing and managing the impact of micro plastics on marine animals

Not only is $20 from each registration in the 21, 42 and 74 kilometre events donated, but participants can actually raise money themselves via Everyday Hero.  Participants are actually running for the reef without perhaps realising the potential to raise much needed funds for the ongoing protection and research for the Great Barrier Reef.

With the announcement of the world’s first robot designed to control the Great Barrier Reef’s crown-of-thorns starfish population by Drs Matthew Dunbabin and Feras Dayoub from Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Future Environment, initiatives such as Run for the Reef enables more funding to assist projects this year like the The Elimination of the Crown of Thorns Starfish.  

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Protecting Australian’s natural asset The Great Barrier Reef, is an ongoing strategy. Initiatives such as Run for the Reef lets participants run for a cause as well as compete as an athlete. Every Day Hero

Before, during and after each event competitors, volunteers and supporters are to follow standard "leave no trace" environmental guidelines. This is a requirement of the group activity permit and ensures the success of future permit applications to make sure this annual event continues each year. To reduce the runners carbon footprint, all competitors are encouraged to make use of transport provided by the event organisers. 

Anyone interested in volunteering on the day please contact event organiser Sarah Cullen via email: sarah@pdem.com.au or mobile: 0408 130 970