Phuket – 5 September 2017: JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa in collaboration with Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and its foundation partners will host its annual fundraising sports event, the 13th Mai Khao Turtle Fun Run across the Sea and Mini Marathon 2017, which will be taking place on Sunday October 8th, 2017, from 5.30 am – 7.30 am, at the Phuket Gateway.

On this occasion, Mr. Norraphat Plodthong, Governor of Phuket, will be the honored guest and preside on the race day. The event is a fun and family oriented affair with open for all ages and public. The race starts and finishes at a spectacular Phuket Gateway and encompass the surrounding beauty of Had Sai Kaew beach, T. Baan Ta Chat Chai and the village and the mini marathon 10.2 km will run across the iconic Sarasin Bridge to Phang Nga province back and forth.

There are 2.5km family run, 5.3km normal or VIP run and a 10.2km mini marathon. For both, overall fun run 5.3km and 10.2Km – male and female category, trophies and cash prizes will be awarded for 1st to 5th place finishers.

All registered runners will also receive a running shirt and medal, and there will be numerous trophies for the hotel and running club with the most participants, the heaviest, oldest and youngest runners, the best fancy outfit and much more.

The entry fee is 350 Baht per person for normal 5.3km and 1,500 Baht for VIP 5.30 km (guaranteed trophy) ; 350 Baht per person for mini marathon 10.2km category and THB 1,200 per family (2 adults and maximum 2 children aged under 12 years old) for family run category.

The money raised will go towards to The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, which is committed to protecting the marine and coastal environment and ecosystems for the wellbeing of the sea turtles that nest in the Mai Khao beach and the surrounding areas.

For online booking and registration is available from July 17 – 20 September 2017, log on to www.maikhaomarineturtlefoundation.org

Or walk-in registration at The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa’s during 21 – 30th September, from 10 am to 5 pm, call +66 (0) 76 338 000 ext. 3309 or email to maikhaoturtlefoundation@gmail.com

Thank you to all of the generous sponsors, associates, volunteers and participants.

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.

17 April 2017 Phuket, Thailand – The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and its partners organized the 8th annual Mai Khao Marine Turtle Release Ceremony on Songkran day, April 13. With five hundred hotel’s guests, Phuket residents, tourists and provincial dignitaries gathered at Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa’s beachfront and were welcomed by General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Oriol Montal.

The ceremony, presided over by Vice Governor of Phuket Sivaporn Chuasawas alongside with guests of honour among Acting Sub Lieutenant Vigrom Charktee, Thalang Sheriff; Dr. Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Director of Phuket Marine Biological Center; Captain Suthisak Cheu-Muang-Pak, Director of Department of Civil Affairs, 3rd Naval Area Command; Mr. Vitoon Dechpramualpol, Intendent of Sirinart National Park; Mrs. Juttarat Ninlahut, Asst. Director of The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phuket Office.

“This is a fantastic day and phenomenal way to begin the Thai New Year by releasing 53 new batches of rehabilitated green turtles into the Andaman Sea and It’s become our traditional event during Songkran Festival by now. Sea Turtles represent longevity in Thai culture and releasing animals to nature is believed to bring good luck to the participants. The hotel guests were delighted as this is distinctive experience of their Phuket holiday” said, Mr. Oriol Montal, General Manager.

All monies have raised through donations during the event, it went towards supporting the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and its partners: the Phuket Marine Biological Centre’s injured Turtle Rehabilitation Program and the Third Naval Area Command’s Turtle Hatchery Program.
Furthermore, the Mai Khao Turtle Foundation also organized the exclusive Turtle release programs on April 15 and 16 from 9 am – 10 am together with IUCN once again this year. The event was supported by the Phuket Marine Biological Center, The Royal Thai Navy, Department of Marine & Coastal Resources and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

For more information about the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, please contact Mr. Sean Panton, Co-Chairman & Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Marriott Thailand Business Council, email sean.panton@marriotthotels.com or Khun Kittipan, Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation Manager, via email info@maikhaoturtlefoundation.org or call 076 338 000 ext. 3383

Phuket, Thailand – April 7, 2017 The JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, in collaboration with The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and its partners, will be hosting the 8th annual Mai Khao Turtle Release, which is scheduled during the Songkran Festival on April 13, from 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm. The Thalang District Chief, Acting Sub Lt. Vigrom Wati and representatives from its business partners will be a guest of honour and be part of this Thai New Year celebration.

Furthermore, the Mai Khao Turtle Foundation also has organized the exclusive Turtle release programs on April 15 and 16 from 9 am – 10 am together with IUCN for this year. The event is supported by the Phuket Marine Biological Center and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Taking place on the JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa’s beachfront, the 8th Mai Khao Turtle Release will see 65 new batch of rehabilitated green turtles introduced their natural life in the Andaman Sea, where they belong. Sea turtles represent longevity in Thai culture and releasing animals to nature is believed to bring good luck to the participant.

Phuket residents and hotel guests are invited to join what promises to be a fun, family-oriented and inspirational experience. In doing so they will be helping to protect the area’s endangered turtle population.

Every THB 5,000 raised through donations and additional money raised during the event will go towards supporting the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and its partners: the Phuket Marine Biological Centre’s injured Turtle Rehabilitation Program and the Third Naval Area Command’s Turtle Hatchery Program.

For more information about the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, please contact Mr. Sean Panton, Co-Chairman & Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Marriott Thailand Business Council, email sean.panton@marriotthotels.com or Khun Kittipan, Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation Manager, via email info@maikhaoturtlefoundation.com or call 076 338 000 ext. 3383