Run for the Gulf to Benefit Alabama Gulf Coast: Atlanta Radio Host Paul Leslie to Pay Tribute to Forrest Gump and Raise Awareness for Alabama Gulf Coast

Award-winning radio talk show host and producer Paul Leslie plans to complete a 52-mile run to benefit the Alabama Gulf Coastal Foundation. Leslie will run in honor of the 25th publication anniversary of the novel “Forrest Gump” by Winston Groom. Leslie will begin his journey on April 5th, 2011 along Heron Bay in southern Mobile County and run along the Gulf coast of Alabama until he reaches the Florida state line on April 9th, 2011.

Run for the Gulf to Benefit Alabama Gulf Coast: Atlanta Radio Host Paul Leslie to Pay Tribute to Forrest Gump and Raise Awareness for Alabama Gulf Coast
Mobile, AL, March 23, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Run for the Gulf to benefit Alabama Gulf Coast

Atlanta radio host Paul Leslie to pay tribute to Forrest Gump and raise awareness for Alabama Gulf Coast. All proceeds benefit Alabama Coastal Foundation.

Award-winning radio talk show host and producer Paul Leslie plans to complete a 52-mile run to benefit the Alabama Gulf Coastal Foundation. Leslie will run in honor of the 25th publication anniversary of the novel “Forrest Gump” by Winston Groom. Leslie will begin his journey on April 5th, 2011 along Heron Bay in southern Mobile County and run along the Gulf coast of Alabama until he reaches the Florida state line on April 9th, 2011.

The 1986 novel, Forrest Gump, by Alabama resident Winston Groom serves as the basis for the 1994 blockbuster hit of the same name. In the movie, Gump runs across the United States several times, gathering a small following of people who find purpose in his action. Leslie hopes the same will happen with Run for the Gulf, inviting everyone to don their running shoes and join him in a show of solidarity. Leslie will cover between 9 and 15 miles each day, tweeting along the way. His progress will be tracked on the Alabama Coastal Foundation website and blog, the Alabama Coastal Foundation Facebook page, and Paul Leslie’s twitter account @thepaulleslie.

Leslie is no stranger to long distance feats. In 2010, he ran over 300 miles from Panama City Beach, Florida to New Orleans to raise money for the Make It Right Foundation. While on the trek, Leslie met Bart and Claudia Hodges, who live on the coast in Fort Morgan, Alabama. They invited him to visit and he fell in love with the place. Leslie was visiting the Hodges when the Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster began. He was determined to help. “Of all of the people I met during my walk, the people of Alabama were the kindest. They have a special place in my heart and I want to draw attention to the Alabama gulf coast.”

Mobile-based non-profit, Alabama Coastal Foundation, is grateful for Leslie’s efforts. “Many people do not realize that Alabama has some of the most beautiful coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico,” said Bethany Kraft, Executive Director of the Alabama Coastal Foundation. “We are incredibly appreciative of Paul’s efforts to raise awareness and his support of our work to protect these resources.”

For more information and daily progress about Paul Leslie’s Run for the Gulf, including how to get involved with the Alabama Coastal Foundation and how to donate, visit the Alabama Coastal Foundation website.

Paul Leslie’s Run for the Gulf Schedule:

April 5– Heron Bay to The Pelican Pub in Dauphin Island – 9.7 miles
April 6 – The Pelican Pub to The Beach Hut Café in Gulf Shores - 15.7 miles (4.5 miles on the ferry)
April 7 – Rest Day
April 8 – The Beach Hut Café to Lulu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores – 13.5 miles
April 9 - Lulu’s to the Florabama in Perdido Key, Florida – 13.4 miles

About Alabama Coastal Foundation
Alabama Coastal Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization serving Baldwin and Mobile Counties in South Alabama. Our mission is to improve and protect the quality of Alabama’s coastal resources by identifying and solving problems through education, cooperation, and participation. Founded in 1993, ACF has an established history of bringing together diverse interests to facilitate responsible environmental decision-making. Our focus areas are education and habitat restoration. Learn more about our many programs and projects at www.joinacf.org.

About Paul Leslie
Not yet out of his twenties, Paul Leslie is an award-winning radio host who has interviewed the likes of Woody Allen, Maya Angelou, Walter Cronkite, Jeff Bridges, Fats Domino, Jeff Daniels and hundreds others. His radio program was first heard on Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville. He hopes to continue to blend journalism and atypical transportation methods annually as long as he is physically able. Learn more about Paul Leslie at www.thepaulleslie.com.

Media Contacts

Bethany Kraft
Executive Director
Alabama Coastal Foundation
bkraft@joinacf.org
251-990-6002

Anna Keene Miller
Programs Director/Event Manager
Alabama Coastal Foundation
akeene@joinacf.org
251-990-6002

Laura Berkobin
Publicist for Paul Leslie
Lberkobin@gmail.com
Cell 404-964-1337
Fax 770.576.8846

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Contact
Alabama Coastal Foundation
Anna Keene Miller
251-990-6002
www.joinacf.org
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Run for the Gulf

Run for the Gulf

Run for the Gulf with Paul Leslie. A tribute to Forrest Gump. All proceeds benefit the Alabama Coastal Foundation.

Alabama Coastal Foundation

Alabama Coastal Foundation

Alabama Coastal Foundation (ACF) has worked to create a healthy balance between the conservation needs of our priceless coastal resources and the inevitable pressures of economic growth.

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