The USA Wild Women ultra team is running this September to try and help a crucially important ecosystem under increasing threat from our expanding, accelerating human world and the environmental challenges it has created. The animals and wild spaces of Africa have been gradually disappearing for years. Now the financial strain of COVID global disruption and desperation is imperiling them further. Without support, this incredible natural resource and its inspirational animals may be lost or damaged forever. The ForRangers Foundation in Kenya (https://www.forrangers.com), affiliated with Save the Rhino, works to directly support and outfit the local rangers who are combating wildlife poaching and managing human-wildlife conflict. These dedicated men and women are on the front lines of the battle to protect both animals and humans, doing a difficult job with great danger and sometimes fatal consequences. Often they lack basic equipment and support like socks, rations, gear, and medical coverage and assistance for families whose members are killed in the line of duty. Their efforts have been extremely successful, but the loss of financial resources from tourism due to COVID pandemic has created a desperate and tenuous situation. If we do not act now, vital species and habitat may be lost forever. 

In the last two years so much of our world seems to have turned upside down. There are so many crises, so many needs that it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Our team of four dedicated women (three Coloradans and one Californian) is taking on the challenge of running 5 sequential marathons over 5 days through four wild and remote Kenyan conservancies (Lewa, Borana, Lolldaiga and Ol Jogi). We hope to raise awareness for the urgency to protect this incredible land, its wildlife and its people. We want to help mitigate the collateral damage of the pandemic in some small way. Anything helps, at any level, and it will all go directly to the people who need it. The local wildlife rangers on the ground are literally the last line of defense for this precious and iconic part of our globe. If we can sustain them during this pandemic, then there will continue to be wild spaces and legendary wildlife alive and free. Let’s not tell our children and grandchildren that the pandemic cost us the rhinos, elephants, lions, or giraffes in addition to the human cost. Thank you!!