On February 9, 2020, a dedicated group of Miami Waterkeeper volunteers crossed the finish line of the Miami Marathon, pulling over 100 lbs. of ocean trash with them, nearly 10 hours after they started!
Team Miami Waterkeeper: Andrew Otazo, Carlos Gaviria, Nick Grate, Tony DelaRosa, Irene Vailikit, Katy Huddlestun, Ben Zaoui, Joaquin Urrechaga.
Over the last few months, Miami Waterkeeper volunteers removed trash from the mangroves, used that trash to build a 130 lb. trash cart, and pulled it 26.2 miles through the streets of Miami to raise awareness for the global ocean pollution problem. These volunteers raised over $8,000 for Miami Waterkeeper in the process! Their dedication is extraordinary.
Last year, Andrew Otazo walked the Miami Marathon alone with 30 lbs. of trash on his back. This year, he wanted to recruit a team of motivated, environmentally conscious champions to pull a cart instead. He recognizes that protecting our fragile ecosystem and raising awareness for environmental issues takes a group effort, plus it is far more fun to walk with friends!
When recruiting teammates, Andrew encouraged them to: “Challenge yourself physically, help save our local environment, and do something utterly ridiculous that you can brag about for the rest of your life.”
The team walked together over causeways, through crowded streets, and across the finish line as one cohesive unit. While it was not easy, and there were many blisters and scrapes along the way, their passion and dedication never wavered. Thank you, Team Miami Waterkeeper, and the donors to this unique campaign. With your support, we can continue to fight for swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for all.
Originally published at https://www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/miami_marathon_2020