Reef runners raise almost $30,000 for JCU research

RUN FOR THE REEF

Last updated: 23/02/2018, 13:45:00 (AEST)

(L-R) Chris Jones and Daniel Hughes from Tropical Journeys/Experience Co, JCU Dean of Research Professor Andrew Krockenberger and Run for the Reef Fund director Sam Cullen at the cheque presentation. IMAGE: Newsport.

ORGANISERS of the Run for the Reef initiate have presented James Cook University a cheque for almost $30,000 following a groundbreaking 2017.

Over 6000 runners, spectators and corporate sponsors took part in the Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon and SolarCare CITYRUN events last year helping to raise much needed funds for new whale shark and manta ray research.

The JCU Run for the Reef Fund, established in 2014, has now raised $79,465 for several scientific programs dedicated to the reef.

“We’re really happy to be able to hand this cheque over today,” said Sam Cullen, Director of the GBR Marathon and Run for the Reef Fund.

“We’ve now raised almost $80,000 since the fund started and we’re excited to be able to increase the amount substantially this year.”

Last November, Dr Adam Barnett and Richard Fitzpatrick from the JCU Run for the Reef scientific team and Biopixel successfully tagged the first ever Manta Ray in North Queensland.

The team, now equipped with state of the art satellite tags, will pursue the tagging of the first ever whale shark on the Great Barrier Reef this year.

“The program that we set up is very particular,” Cullen said.

“It allows us to show the money raised by the runners from the events is going directly into monitoring whale sharks on the Great Barrier Reef.

“Whale sharks were added to the endangered species list only last year and that certainly sparked a lot of interest from Government authorities regarding better ways to protect the species.”

The Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival will be held again in October with each runner directly contributing to the Fund through their registration.

The Super Early Bird registrations close on March 1. For more information visit www.greatbarrierreefmarathon.com.au.