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Mid Atlantic Media Contact: (757) 398-6272

Coast Guard News

5th District Public Affairs

U.S. Coast Guard

News Release

Date: May 26, 2012

Contact: 5th District Public Affairs

Office: (757) 398-6272

Coast Guard hosts safe boating run in Atlantic Beach, NC

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. - Race participants participate in the 5k Run Around the Block here as they pass in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Block Island, an 87-foot patrol boat, May 26, 2012. Lt. Grant Thomas, the commanding officer of the Block Island came up with the idea to have people run while wearing life jackets to raise awareness of boating safety. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.
ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. - Approximately 120 race participants begin the Run Around the Block 5k event here, May 26, 2012. The event coordinator's intent for the race was to raise awareness of boating safety by encouraging runners to wear life jackets during the event. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill. ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. - Medals for the 5k Run Around the Block event here are shown, May 26, 2012. The medals were passed out to all approximately 120 participants as they crossed the finish line. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill. TLANTIC BEACH, N.C. - An HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City flies overhead just before the start of the 5k Run Around the Block event here, May 26, 2012. The aircrew returned and conducted several flybys throughout the race of approximately 120 people. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill. ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Bernardo Huerte, a race participant, receives his race number after registering for the 5k Run Around the Block here, May 26, 2012. The event consisted of approximately 120 runners and is the first of its kind for the unit. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill.

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. — The Coast Guard hosted a 5K run through the Fort Macon State Park and Coast Guard base here Saturday, to raise awareness of safe boating and the importance of wearing a life jacket while on the water.

In 2011, the Coast Guard recorded 4,588 recreational boating accidents that involved 758 deaths, 3,081 injuries and approximately $52 million dollars of damage to property.

"The main purpose of the event is to promote boating safety," said Lt. Grant Thomas, the event coordinator and commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Block Island. "Having people run in life jackets was something we were doing to push the safe boating side of things. I'd say about 30 to 40 runners were wearing life jackets, definitely a success there."

The run began with the firing of a cannon at the state park, where participants followed a path through the Coast Guard base marked with life jackets around cones and even a trailered small boat to point runners toward the next leg of the race.

Personnel from the Coast Guard Cutter Block Island, Coast Guard Sector Field Office North Carolina, Coast Guard Sector North Carolina, Coast Guard Cutter Staten Island, Coast Guard Cutter Smilax, Aids to Navigation Team Fort Macon, Coast Guard Station Fort Macon, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Atlantic Beach Police Department and the Fort Macon State Park assisted in coordinating the event.

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City conducted a flyby before the start of the race.

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