There’s no set formula when it comes to fundraising with Project AWARE® – the possibilities are as vast as the ocean. Some bake cakes, others take on the challenge to run marathons in full scuba gear. 

A diving instructor and fitness trainer, known as "Scuba Mark", recently ran the Dublin Marathon in full scuba gear to raise funds for a cause close to his heart: ocean protection.

"Scuba Mark" recently ran the Chicago marathon to raise money for Project AWARE and he repeated the challenge, once again, in the Dublin Marathon on October 27, this time wearing his diving gear to make a splash and show that not all heroes wear capes.

The day went great and the support was immense. I finished in 4:24:26. I'm determined to do it again next year with the aim of getting into the Guinness World Records.

Scuba Mark is not new to fundraising for good causes. He previously ran the 2015 Dublin marathon in a fully inflatable Mr. Blobby costume to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society, but this year, he decided to connect his passion for scuba diving with the purpose of marine conservation. He joined the Project AWARE 2019 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Team as well as the Dublin Marathon to raise over $2,800 to help secure a brighter future for the health of our blue planet and specifically address the critical issue of marine debris.

Funds raised by the marathon team support Project AWARE's conservation work and fuel the grassroots action and policy change necessary to ensure a clean, healthy ocean for us today and for future generations.

Mark learned to dive in 2009. That was it! He was hooked and quickly went on the life-changing journey of becoming a scuba diving instructor. Through scuba diving, Mark became aware of the scale of the problems facing the ocean including the onslaught of marine debris wreaking havoc on marine life and fragile aquatic ecosystems. Guiding a dive as a newly qualified instructor in 2016, Mark was horrified to see the dive site in Koh Tao, Thailand, almost entirely covered in fishing nets. 

Fishing trawlers would just drag their nets behind their boats and when they got caught in pinnacles, they would cut them loose and continue on. We noticed several fish had died after being caught between the net and pinnacle," said Mark, talking about the experience. "The horrible consequences of human actions finally hit me and I’ve tried to actively make a difference ever since."

To boost his fundraising activities and offer sponsorship opportunities to his supporters, "Scuba Mark" launched a charity raffle with support from PADI and Apeks who kindly donated an XL4+ regulator to Mark Scuba Marathon fundraiser. Any diver making a donation of $5 or more was invited to guess Mark's finishing time to be in with the chance of winning the XL4+, and any PADI Pro who donated $5 to the fundraiser was entered in a prize draw to win a PADI 2020 membership renewal for free. The lucky winners of the Prize Draw were announced on Scuba Mark's Scuba Marathon for Project AWARE Facebook page.

I honestly cannot bear to watch what we are doing to the planet and its inhabitants," said Mark. '"As a lover of the ocean, I'm very aware that ocean protection depends on all of our actions, large and small."

We thank Scuba Mark and all who sponsored his challenge or donated to show support. Now more than ever before, ocean advocates are taking a stand for conservation and Mark is definitely making an impact. His dedication and creativity are truly inspiring, and his fundraising challenges go a long way towards fueling the grassroots actions and policy change necessary to ensure a clean, healthy ocean today and in the future.

Thank you Mark, you are a true ambassador for ocean protection.