Working Together to Save the Penguins and Raise Awareness

March 8, 2022

Marathon Tours & Travel contributes more than $56,000 to Oceanites through the generosity of Antarctica Marathon participants

BOSTON, MA – March 8, 2022 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Recently, on unseasonably mild days, Marathon Tours & Travel held the 21 and 22 running of the Antarctica Marathon® and Half-Marathon, which has taken place on King George Island since its inception in 1995.  Back then, runners dealt with brutal conditions, as they ran through snow and navigated sheets of ice.  This year, after a two-year absence due to the global pandemic, runners’ encountered milder conditions and instead of snow or ice, their challenge was a very hilly course and lots of mud.   Climate change is real and is being witnessed first-hand.

For this very reason, Marathon Tours & Travel chose Oceanites as its official non-profit organization of the Antarctica Marathon® and Half-Marathon and has been supporting them for almost 15 years.  Since 1985, Oceanites has devoted their time and resources to research the effect of climate change and tourism on Antarctica. They collect valuable data on wildlife and plant populations to support further research on this most pristine part of the planet.  In an effort to aid in this cause, Marathon Tours & Travel strictly enforces the ‘leave no footprint behind’ policy and are extremely regimented with what comes on to the Island must come off.

Awareness of the issue as well as the history, wildlife and geology of Antarctica are highlighted as the group travels by ship from Ushuaia, Argentina through the Drake Passage to make their way to King George Island.  They participate in excursions on the 10-day adventure where they see the pristine beauty and wildlife up close and personal.  This experience along with their newly acquired knowledge creates a very passionate group who want to help.  Through the sponsorship of Antarctica Marathon® Mile Markers, participating in the post-race auction and through personal donations the amount provided to Oceanites this year was more than $56,000.

“The significant support from Marathon Tours & Travel and their Antarctica travelers provides Oceanites the ability to continue our mission of scientific research and raising climate change awareness.  The 200 guests they bring to Antarctica each year, return home as new ambassadors for our important mission.  I, along with my team are grateful for this continued grassroots effort.  We look forward to many more years of collaborating,” stated Ron Naveen, Founder and President, Oceanites.

For many, this destination is a once and a lifetime experience and becomes more than the race alone.  As said by a 2022 participant, “The race, of course, provides a unique experience but the unexpected beauty, history, wildness, ecology, and geology of Antarctica took this trip to a higher level; it was a double adventure.”

Ongoing efforts between Marathon Tours & Travel and Oceanites are in the works to continue raising awareness throughout the coming year.

About Marathon Tours & Travel

Founded in 1979, Marathon Tours & Travel (MTT) was the first global company to specialize in travel services specifically for runners. Located in Boston, the home of the world’s oldest marathon, MTT is the official North American travel agency for many of the world’s most popular running events including the BAA Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon and many others. In 1995 MTT created the Antarctica Marathon® & Half-Marathon, which generated a new genre of adventure runs. The Antarctica events enabled runners to set and reach the once unthinkable goal of finishing a marathon or half-marathon on all seven continents. Pursuantly, the Seven Continents Club® was formed to recognize these runners and to offer special VIP services to international globetrotting distance runners. For more information, visit www.marathontours.com.

About Oceanites

Oceanites is a 501C3 non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that operates internationally with the central mission of assisting science-based conversation recommendations in Antarctica and increasing the awareness of climate change worldwide.  Oceanites values are grounded, in science, education, stewardship, and transparency.  Ongoing scientific work is the springboard for Oceanites’ climate change outreach, which uses penguins as avatars to explain how we humans, like all biological creatures may or may not adapt when the warming of the planet comes our way.  More information available on www.oceanites.org.

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Contacts:
Marathon Tours & Travel             
Jeff Adams
617.242.7845 phone                         
jeff@marathontours.com

Oceanites
David W. Lippy
614.554.9235 phone
David@effectiveglobal1.com