Update: Well I completed the 13.1 miles in 2hrs, 13mins and 52secs.  It was incredibly hot in the tiger costume, making the run feel much harder than it should have.  However, sore muscles are a small price to pay for such a great experience.

I need to thank everyone who cheered me on along the route and especially thank my astonishingly generous sponsors who have helped me raise more money than I dared think was possible.  A MASSIVE thank you from me and all the remaining wild tigers.  Without you the sponsors my efforts would mean nothing.

Hi everyone.  Well I'm at it again, raising money for good causes.  I'm running the 2008 Great North Run (dressed as a tiger) to raise much needed funds for the tiger conservation charity, 21st Century Tiger.

The wild tiger population is facing a crisis and extinction is a real possibility if something isn't done immediately.  As few as 3,600 tigers remain in the wild and, as of 2008, less than 1,200 survive in India.  In the last 100 years the world tiger population has been reduced by 95%, yes that's right it's not a typo, a 95% reduction due directly to human influence.  Furthermore, tigers have disappeared from 40% of their range in the last 10 years alone.

21st Century Tiger

21st Century Tiger is a unique wild tiger conservation partnership between the Zoological Society of London and Global Tiger Patrol. They are working to save tigers in the wild and badly need financial assistance if this magnificent animal is to be saved from extinction. Thankfully, tigers are remarkably resilient and given favourable circumstances their population will rebound, it's not too late.

Save the cat and help the people

Saving the wild tiger is not just about beautiful cats. As the tiger is an apex predator, by conserving a healthy tiger population we will help maintain the entire ecosystem and landscape that directly provides the local human population with essential ecological services (jungle is essential for providing clean water to local populations, preventing flooding and soil erosion) and for maintaining a high quality environment for health and economic reasons. 

The presence of tigers is often the only thing protecting what little jungle remains.  If we can help reverse the decline in tiger numbers we also save an entire ecosystem, and in so doing help the local human population.  Everybody wins!

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: 21st Century Tiger via the Zoological Society Of London 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.

So please sponsor me now!