Turtles Fly Too dedicates mission to fighting pediatric cancer

Following her diagnosis at age 10, Bonnie told her parents she wanted to do something to help other children with cancer. Since then, the resulting effort has raised more than $23 million for children’s cancer research at University of Florida Health.

For the latest mission pilots transported 60 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from the New England Aquarium in Boston to new homes in Florida. The group said the mission is necessary because of a rapid decrease in water temperatures in certain areas that has stunned many turtles. The aquarium takes the animals in, and when it reaches capacity it contacts Turtles Fly Too to arrange transport to marine medical facilities capable of administering appropriate critical care.

Turtles Fly Too arranged for 20 turtles to be flown to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida, and for 12 more to fly to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Another 20 flew to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, and eight went to Coastal Stewards in Boca Raton.

Through Stop Children’s Cancer, the Freeman family established the Bonnie R. Freeman Clinical Trials Fund, which has supported research that has improved patient outcomes.

“This is a small way for us to honor Bonnie’s memory and the incredible work her parents continue to do,” said Leslie Weinstein, president of Turtles Fly Too, who has known the Freeman family for 55 years. “I am proud to dedicate this mission to them, knowing how much they’ve accomplished in Bonnie’s name.”