Three Thousand and Two Hundred Runners Turn Out for The 13th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run & Mini Marathon 2017 in Phuket

Phuket – October 8, 2017: There was a huge turnout for the 13th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Mini Marathon 2017, with 3,200 people taking part in the annual event, which is in its 13th year.

Mr. Oriol Montal, General Manager of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa welcomed the guests of honor and participants in this early Sunday morning. The opening ceremony presided by Mr. Noraphat Plodthong, Phuket Governor alongside with Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok, Phuket Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew and Khun Uthit Limsakul, Deputy Director of The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office at Phuket Gateway. Before the race kicked off, Phuket Governor requested the participants to rise to observe 2 minutes of silence in loving memory of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The atmosphere was incredible with local people taking part to run for fitness and conservation of sea turtles together. The mini marathon 10.2K runners made a history once again by running across the iconic Phuket, Sarasin and Thao Thep Kasattri Bridge to Phang Nga province and back, it was the second year that we used this beautiful routing for the annual Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Mini Marathon.

“Healthy people make for a healthy community,” I am delighted to be part of this amazing event, huge thanks also goes to the foundation owners the Minor group, sponsors, partners and hardworking volunteers, this event would not be possible without them” said, Mr. Oriol Montal, General Manager of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

The annual Turtle Fun Run and Mini Marathon – while also aiming to encourage in people a healthy lifestyle – is a collaborative effort by the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa to raise funds and awareness of the conservation work done by the Phuket Marine Biological Center and its "The Injured Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program" to rescue, rehabilitate and release (recovered) injured turtles, dolphins, whales and dugongs.

Phuket’s endangered sea turtles – which use Mai Khao Beach as a nesting ground – are facing multiple threats, their numbers having severely depleted in recent years. Commercial fishing kills thousands of them every year, while many more die from eating or becoming trapped in plastic debris littering the ocean.

• (1st) Mr. Uthit Limsakul, Deputy Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office
• (2nd) Mr. Oriol Montal, General Manager of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
• (3rd) Mr. Thawornwat Kongkaew, Phuket Vice Governor
• (4th ) Mr. Noraphat Plodthong, Phuket Governor (5th) Mr. Snith Sriwihok, Phuket Vice Governor
• (6th) Mrs. Leedee Sriwihok (7th) Ms. Budsaya Jaipiem, Chief of Phuket Provincial, the Government Public Relations Department
• (8th ) Mr. Sean Panton, Co-Chairman & Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Marriott Thailand Business Council
• (9th) Mrs. Kanokwan Homcha-aim, Field Coordinator South (Marriott project), Thailand Programme

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
The winner of Male Overall Mini Marathon 10.2 km.’s category

• 1st Mr. Warut Suwannacheep
• 2nd Mr. Anun Khakpong
• 3rd Mr Chonnakan Thongcho
• 4th Mr. Chinawat
• 5th Mr. Nirut Deankeat
• 6th Mr. Sangha Sangparn
• 7th Mr. Suteab Seama