I'm taking part in the European Triathlon Championships in Holten, Holland on 4th July. This involves a 1.5km open water swim, 40km bike and 10km run. I'm likely to come last (I achieved the slowest qualifying time by a long way!) - especially if it takes me half an hour to get my wetsuit off!
Please help to make my pain and embarrassment worthwhile by helping to support the rangers in DRCongo who risk their lives to protect the threatened mountain gorillas. More info below.
There are less than 700 mountain gorillas now living in the wild - all in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mountain gorillas are shy, intelligent and family loving and yet are threatened with extinction due to poaching, snares for bush meat hunting, illegal deforestation for the charcoal trade and disease. Around 200 of the gorillas live in in the Virunga National park in eastern DRC where the level of threat is high and compounded by decades of ongoing conflict.
Gearing Up 4 Gorillas is a UK charity that focuses purely on supporting the rangers of Virunga National Park who work to protect the National Park and its wildlife. The rangers monitor and protect the gorillas 365 days of the year through removing snares, destroying illegal charcoal kilns and arresting those involved in illegal activities. Funding from G4G helps to ensure that the rangers receive a monthly salary, training, vehicles and basic equipment in order to be able to carry out their work effectively and safely.
Over 100 rangers have been killed in the last decade in Virunga.
G4G is run entirely by volunteers and was set up by Linda Nunn whose day job is managing Cranborne Chase AONB.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Gearing Up 4 Gorillas (G4G) 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 help to protect the gorillas and sponsor me now.
