Hello - and thanks for visiting my fundraising page!

If any of you have been watching 'Orangutan Diary' on BBC2 (Wednesdays, 8pm) you will know that the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation is doing all it can to help save the orangutan from extinction and protect its rainforest home.

The BOS foundation rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of wild and orphaned orangutans who have been left homeless because of intensive palm oil production. Every minute of every day an area of rainforest the size of three football pitches is destroyed to make way for palm oil - a substance found in thousands of supermarket products. Due to them having lost 80% of their habitat in just twenty years, adult orangutans are continually being forced into wandering into palm oil plantations in search of food only to be cruelly slaughtered by palm oil farmers, and if their young make it through the ordeal, they are sold off into the illegal pet trade.

The World Bank has estimated that the Kalimantan forest (Indonesian Borneo) will be lost by 2010 due to mechanized logging, and other statistics state that wild orangutans are disappearing at a rate of 5,000 per year. Optimistic predictions give the orangutan ten more years before extinction in the wild.

As the BOS foundation rely entirely on donations to achieve their goals, I'm competing in this run as a means to try and raise some cash and help them out in a small way - they will be grateful for any donations you can kindly spare. If you wish to find out about the BOS foundation's good work, or help out even more by sponsoring an orangutan, please visit their website - http://www.savetheorangutan.co.uk/diary/

Although my original idea of running the race in a full-on orangutan outfit has been shelved, I will certainly be fairly noticeable on the day!  

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Borneo Orangutan Survival gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thank you for your time and thank you for your help!