Runners raise funds for sea turtle conservation

By Ian Swaby
| 9:30 a.m. April 6, 2025

Carey Beychok, Lorrie Muldowney, Jake Lasala, staff scientist and program manager with Mote, Sandy Moutoux and Tina Williams

Siesta Key
Neighbors

After 7-year-old Eve Barniskis reached the finish line on the beach sands, her mother Stephanie Barniskis, who ran with her, said she did “awesome" job.

“She didn’t like anyone passing her,” said Stephanie Barniskis.

Eve was just one of the many community members energized for the 39th annual Run for the Turtles, the main fundraiser for the Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, which was held April 5 on Siesta Beach.

Melissa Macksey, a senior biologist and data manager for the program, said the race is a "huge" component of spreading awareness about sea turtle conservation and raising funds for the program's activities including marking nests, tracking trends and collecting data.

The run kicks off the sea turtle nesting season, which runs from April 15 to October 31 in Southwest Florida, and the aquarium says the run attracts over 1,000 runners annually.

It includes a 1-mile fun run, as well as a 5K race sanctioned by Manasota Track Club.

“It’s a tradition,” said Cathi Skuba. She enjoys running that race, and the Sandy Claws Beach Run, each year with her grandson Jack Skuba, 3.

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Michelle Lugo, 9, and Sebastian Kovendy await the start of the 5K.

Roger Janczak, Hannah Chupp and Erik Wydner head for the finish line.

Jackson Mitchell, 16, nears the end of the race.

Keep Morse slaps hands with Mote's mascot Gilly.

Chris Olszewski makes his way toward the finish line.

Carter Andrejkovics, 10, sits with Cayden Myers and Aster Myers, 18 after they finish the race.

Ricardo Gonzalez prepares to start the 5K.

Racers prepare to begin the 5K. Front: Danny Withers, Noah Mahrenholz, 9, Sawyer Fleming, 11, and Phoenix Gomez, 12 and Jonah Kindred, 12

Sebastian Kovendy, the overall winner, comes in for the finish line.

Heather Butcher, the top overall female, finishes the race.

Rocco Baley, 12, speeds toward the finish line.

Eleanor Spalding, 3, watches the race course for her mother Christina Spalding, with her father Joshua Spalding and sister Maeve Spalding, 1.

Ezra Dominguez Hernandez, 8 comes in at the finish line.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.