TEQUESTA, Fla. — A hundred participants registered to participate in the Trashy Tutu Intracostal cleanup event in Martin County on Thursday.
The event had a dual philanthropic purpose; to clean up the Indian River waterway and a fundraiser for Chasin' a Dream.
Paddleboarders and kayakers launched from the Jupiter Pointe Marina and cleaned up dozens of bags of trash.
Over the last few months, the marina's members raised $31,100 for the charity.
Members of @Jupiter_Pointe_ Marina donate over $35k to Chasin A Dream to help local kids with health conditions. The Trashy Tutu is about to get underway. pic.twitter.com/61JYoBtZUD
— T.A. Walker (@timallanwalker) September 10, 2020
The organizers say the donation will help kids with medical conditions in Martin and Palm Beach Counties. And the money comes when charities are having a difficult time fundraising because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’re just beyond grateful. Because we haven’t been able to raise a lot. Now this will really help us continue what we are doing until the pandemic is over,” Said Lori Griffin, Executive Director for Chasin a Dream.
Beautiful drone footage of the Trashy Tutu event which cleaned up waste from the Intracostal in Tequesta. @WPTV pic.twitter.com/yYjZtFdjch
— T.A. Walker (@timallanwalker) September 11, 2020
Chasin a Dream Foundation helps kids with severe medical conditions. "Locals helping locals," Said Griffin.
The winners of the Trashy Tutu costume contest were the medical professionals from St. Mary's Medical Center's NICU. They were dressed up as the "Jammin' Jellyfish."