UNE's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center to host Frolic for Flippers 5K race as fundraiser

The University of New England's Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center (MARC) is hosting a Frolic for Flippers 5k race on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. on UNE's Biddeford Campus.   The event is an effort to raise funds for MARC's annual care of approximately 100 sick, injured and endangered marine animals that are found along the New England coastline.

Registration fee is $20 for students and children/$25 for the general public and includes an event shirt and raffle ticket for items that will be announced at the event.   Additional raffle tickets can be purchased.

The Frolic course will showcase the Biddeford campus, and it provides participants an opportunity to familiarize themselves with UNE landmarks and to view the entire scenic campus.

For those who are unable to attend the event but who still wish to participate, there will be a satellite participation division Frolic from Afar, allowing participants, for a $30 registration fee, to take part in the event wherever they are and in whatever manner they choose - running, walking, hiking, biking, swimming, sailing, etc.

Children aged ten and under are invited to take part in a "Kids Rehab Race" hosted near the Start/Finish Line, which will take place before and after the Frolic 5K race.  Children can use their skills to rescue, transport and care for a sick seal.  Kids will put on actual rehabilitation coveralls, boots and gloves; rescue a stuffed seal from the "beach;" and transport it several yards to the "hospital" where they will care for it - all in just a few minutes.  A five dollar donation per child is suggested.  Also on hand for children will be special guests Sully the Seal and Dolly the Dolphin.

Every dollar raised by the event contributes to the care of the rescued marine animals at MARC, which is the only hospital in Maine authorized to care for these animals.   MARC's fundraising goal is $10,000.

An open house and tours of the MARC facilities will take place following the Frolic, 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Pre-Registration information can be found at www.une.edu/frolic

Day-of registration will take place 8:00-9:30 a.m. at the Pickus Center parking lot.