Fund-raising turtles race to the finish

It wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day, but the waters of Lake Sahuarita looked green on Saturday as hundreds of Turbo Turtles, assisted by the pressure hoses of a Rural/Metro fire engine, raced from one shore of the lake to the other, each striving to be first in an annual competition that has become as heated as it is traditional.

The occasion was the Sahuarita Rotary Club’s Fourth Annual Great American Turbo Turtle Race, a fundraiser to benefit local causes. In the race, adoptive “parents” cheer on their own numbered turtles as the critters dash from one shore to the other.

This year, funds realized from the race will purchase a bicycle for the Sahuarita Police Department’s VIPs bike patrol officers. The funds will also help support Hands of a Friend domestic abuse shelter, Green Valley Assistance Services and Team Ryan Hess, a group assisting a Sahuarita man diagnosed with cancer.

The Sahuarita Rotary Club was assisted at this year’s race by representatives of the other two local Rotary Clubs, Green Valley and Valle Verde. Volney Morin of Green Valley was emcee, while Nick Clement, also of Green Valley, herded wayward turtles from a kayak. Roni D’Eustachio and Beth Phillips of Valle Verde helped sell turtle adoption papers.

The race was preceded by a demonstration by Sahuarita police Officer Matt Williams and his K-9, Rex, a Belgian Malinois double-certified through the National Canine Police Association. In the demonstration, Rex showed how he assists police teams in detection and apprehension.

Prizes for the race began at $500 for first place and included stays at local resorts with rounds of golf.

This year’s winners were Hans Campestini, Anne Cavanagh, Maribel Cervantes, Blythe Clement, Bill Cusach, Boyd Faulknor, Dennis Haughey, Francis Howe, Katherine Kono (Colton), Linda Martinez, Stormee Mihoky, Judy Miller, Patty Ratelle, Gayle Tremeyer, Sonja Van Buren, John Vickery and Pam White.

Jeannie Applegate is a freelance writer in Sahuarita. Contact her at wordwizard@cox.net.