In a Media Release published 15th July, it was announced:

The Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival in Port Douglas is pleased to announce the new naming rights sponsor for the next three years. As a proud local tour operator to the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef, Tropical Journeys knows firsthand the need for consistent research and development of projects to maintain our country’s greatest natural asset.

Teaming up with the Marathon Festival is an ideal platform for Tropical Journeys in which to promote the health of the reef while maintaining the health of our community and tourism industry. “Our commitment to the Marathon Festival was an easy decision to make on so many levels. Our local family owned business like so many others in the region is dependent on the health and maintenance of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also something we are very passionate about, engaging in community driven events, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and if it also brings more people into the Port Douglas region, even better”, said Marketing Manager for Tropical Journeys, Eleanor Jones.

The Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is held on the 1st November, in Port Douglas, Queensland. Drawing competitors from all over the world, this year’s event looks to be better than ever with Olympic & Commonwealth Games champion Steve Moneghetti coming back as Event Ambassador.

“I really enjoy coming back to the Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival because I am made to feel so welcome by the event. This run makes every participant feel special and personally valued. There is a unique human element to the Festival that has to be experienced to be believed”, said Moneghetti.

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.

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

The projects for this year’s event aren’t quite so glamorous but are equally as important … all the funds raised by the event, including individuals who raise money via the Everyday Hero platform will go to the following projects: 1) The Elimination of the Crown of Thorns Starfish and 2) Assessing and managing the impact of micro plastics on marine animals.

Winner of the 2014 marathon distance, local champion Jimmy Hilton has also decided to come on board as event ambassador. A role he is passionate about as it not only embraces his love of running in the tropics, but also allows him to support something bigger. “These projects are vital to helping clean up the reef. If the Crown of Thorn Starfish is not kept under control and the issue of the micro plastics gets out of hand, we won’t have a beautiful reef to show off to the world”, said Mr Hilton.“Let’s get behind this great event and start raising money for the reef. Register Now”.

If you’d like to get involved in any of the events and help do your part for reef research then go to www.greatbarrierreefmarathon.com.au

ENDS

The event, now in its 4th year has raised substantial funds for the JCU Great Barrier Reef Research Fund who is the charitable beneficiary. “We hope to raise $20,000 this year, and it is also important for the runners to get behind the event with the peer to peer fund raising on Everyday Hero.  Early bird registrations close 31st August and online registrations close 26th October” says Jess Uhlig event organizer.

With the ongoing need for research and development projects to help maintain the Great Barrier Reef as well Olympic & Commonwealth Games champion Steve Moneghetti returning as an Event Ambassador, not to mention having one of the most spectacular back drops, is it any wonder The Tropical Journeys Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is such a continued success.