Run for the Reef Set to Headline Belize’s Reef Week

Belize’s annual Reef Week activities will culminate this weekend with the highly anticipated “Run for the Reef,” hosted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and its partners.

The event begins at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday at Memorial Park in Belize City, where more than 200 runners have already registered. Organizers expect between 250 and 300 participants to turn out in support of Belize’s coral reef system.

Speaking at the Reef Week Fair in Belize City, WWF Senior Program Officer Nadia Bood said Reef Week is an annual collaboration among environmental organizations aimed at highlighting the importance of Belize’s reef.

“Reef Week actually started last Saturday. It’s an annual event where different NGOs and environmental groups come together and host activities throughout the week,” Bood explained. “For WWF, we’re hosting two events — the Run for the Reef tomorrow morning and, in the night, an award ceremony for our mangrove-friendly development challenge.”

“The aim of Reef Week is to share the important role that the reef plays for Belize — whether for livelihoods, food, or coastal protection,” she said. “We want to shine a light on the fact that we have this world-class system providing so much to us as a country.”