Pirates Take To The Streets For Treasure Hunt

You don't have to be a pirate or set sail to claim a share of the loot Saturday in a tri-county treasure hunt that will start shortly after sunrise at an art gallery just west of Brandon. An adventurous and giving spirit, however, is a must.

Plant City native Sherrie St. James-Bastien organized the Ray Kitchens Pirate Treasure Run to mark the anniversary of her father's death a year ago from a severe form of dementia and to raise money for LifePath Hospice.

She said hospice enabled her father to die with dignity and offered much-needed counseling for the grief-stricken family.

"By caring for my dying father, hospice touched my life deeply," St. James-Bastien said. "You can't put a price on dignity, respect and truly caring for complete strangers in such a tender way."

She designed the action-packed, daylong Treasure Run to reflect her father's love of adventure and the great outdoors.

Participants will gather to register at 8 a.m. at the Creative Native Gallery on Falkenberg Road. Then, they will be given maps to a half-dozen or more checkpoints on a 121-mile run through Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

The still-evolving series of pit stops includes Fletcher's Harley-Davidson store in Clearwater and Pirate Cove at Friendly Fisherman's Restaurant on Madeira Beach and Sloppy Joe's on The Beach on Treasure Island, both on the Pinellas coast.

At each stop, players will collect tickets and coins to win prizes at the final destination, Quaker Steak & Lube in Clearwater, where there will be food, drinks, live entertainment, custom car and bike shows and an arts-and-treasures sale.

Car and motorcycle groups and pirate krewes already have registered for the run, but St. James-Bastien's sister, Rhonda Kitchens, said everyone is welcome.

"They can drive a bike, a car, a golf cart, whatever they like," she said.

To expedite the check-in process, St. James-Bastien encourages participants to download and fill out registration and waiver forms on her Web site in advance. But she said the run is not a race.

"The checkpoints open and close at certain times, and all the events are on a planned schedule," she said. "But there will be plenty of time for everyone to relax and enjoy the hospitality along the way."

JOIN THE HUNT

WHAT: Ray Kitchens Memorial Pirate Run

WHEN: Registration starts at 8 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Creative Native Gallery, 5307 N. Falkenberg Road, Tampa

COST: Drivers and passengers pay $20, cash only; proceeds benefit LifePath Hospice

INFO: For information or to register, go to www.sherriest james.com and click on "events," or call St. James at (813) 774-9785 or Kitchens at (941) 704-7558.