Employees of Poole-based leisure giants, Merlin Entertainments Group, have shown their commitment to conservation by taking part in a fitness marathon.
Money raised will go towards a revolutionary new project to help reduce the numbers of sea turtles getting trapped in fishing nets. Turtles need to come to the surface to breath air. If they cannot escape, they drown.
Over 30 employees rowed and pedalled a combined 530 km in a one day event which is expected to raise more than £2,500 for the Sea Life Trust.
The Sea Life Trust is the partner charity to Merlin’s Sea Life Centres.
Together with proceeds from similar ‘Cross The Oceans’ sponsored events at Sea Life attractions worldwide, the funds will support the mission to save sea turtles.
The scheme involves attaching LED lights to fishing nets to deter the turtles from approaching the nets. The pilot scheme off the coast of Peru is expected to save the lives of 1,500 sea turtles over the next two years.
The fundraiser was hosted free-of-charge by Anytime Fitness on Poole’s Lifeboat Quay. The company also provided all the equipment and even managed to persuade a few of their members to take part.
Merlin’s participants included several senior directors and executives including Midway Attractions Divisional Director, Nick Mackenzie.
Main image: Kneeling – Beccy Briley (Sea Life Trust fundraiser) and Ryan Allen (Anytime Fitness sales consultant); Others L-R – Daryl Smith (member), James Burleigh (Sea Life conservation ambassador), Neil Hannaford (Merlin Group treasury manager); Rosalyn Mcfarlane (Merlin PA office manager), and Andy Bool (Head of the Sea Life Trust).