New York Marine Rescue Center Holding Virtual And In Person Run For The Ridley

The New York Marine Rescue Center (NYMRC), a Riverhead-based rescue and rehabilitation organization, will hold the Annual Run for the Ridley on Saturday, May 1.

“This year marks the New York Marine Rescue Center’s 24th Annual 5K Run for the Ridley,” Danielle Perillo, New York Marine Rescue Center Director of Administration & Development, shared. “This event will benefit the cold stunned sea turtles our organization rehabilitates every year.”

The 2021 iteration will take place virtually, meaning that participants can run or walk the 5K on whichever course they prefer, wherever that may be, as well as in person. The 5K will commence at 8:00 a.m.

“During the 2020/2021 cold stun season, the NYMRC had 47 sea turtles in our facility for rehabilitation,” Perillo noted. “This is the highest number of sea turtles we have ever had in our facility.”

NYMRC’s mission is to preserve and safeguard the local marine environment through conservation efforts such as rescue, rehabilitation, education and research. The non-profit is the primary responder for wounded or sick seals, sea turtles, dolphins, porpoises and small toothed whales. NYMRC helms the sole marine mammal and sea turtle rehabilitation center in New York State. Since the organization’s founding in 1996, NYMRC has rescued nearly 4,000 animals. It has nursed back to health and released more than 119 sea turtles, 762 seals, and seven cetaceans.

Run for the Ridley registration is $25. “Funds raised will benefit sea turtles, like Pink Floyd,” she explained. “Pink Floyd is a juvenile loggerhead sea turtle who was found on December 10, 2020 by a staff member patrolling the beach at Salt Marsh Lane in Peconic, NY. Pink Floyd was cold stunned, which is a process where individuals become immobilized due to the dramatic decrease in the water temperature.”

New York Marine Rescue Center is located at 467 East Main Street in Riverhead. For more information, visit nymarinerescue.org.