After doing my first Ultra-Trek two years ago, this year I wanted to push myself harder and signed up to do the Jurassic Coast Ultra Challenge in May, walking or running 100km, over two days, from Poole to Bridport.

***Due to Covid-19 the event itself was initially delayed and has now been cancelled. However, I have an alternative route planned, which I'll be doing Sat/Sun 19th/20th September, and I'll be doing the day one 58km hike in the Peak District, followed by a local 42km marathon route on the cycle path between Huddersfield and Bradford.***

Due to lockdown I've had extra time to train, so rather than walking it all like I originally planned I've decided to really challenge myself and hike the 58km on day one, then run the 42km marathon distance on day two. 

I'm raising sponsorship for the Rainforest Trust, who do great work combating deforestation around the world. 

The worlds rainforests are some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet; and protecting them is one of the key things we can do to combat climate change.

All money raised will be doubled through the Rainforest Trust's SAVES Challenge, where one of the charities benefactors has promised to match all supporters donations.

Check out the work the Rainforest Trust do here:

https://www.rainforesttrust.org/


Just a few facts on the scale of the issue...

• Tropical deforestation accounts for up to 15% of net global carbon emissions each year. That’s about the same as every car, truck, bus, plane, ship and train on the planet combined.
• Nearly 70,000 acres of tropical forest are lost every day. 
• Brazil's current policies for deforestation are estimated to lead to the release of 13 gigatons of carbon over the next 10 years. By comparison, last year the USA emitted 5 gigatons, and China 9 gigatons. 
• Between 15 and 17 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been lost, and if the amount of cleared forest land reaches 25 percent, there won't be enough trees cycling moisture through the rainforest. That will likely cause the rainforest to dry out and degrade into a savanna, losing it in its current state for good.
• It's believed that almost half of the world's animal species live in the tropical rain forests and many are currently endangered, and more will become so as deforestation continues.

The Rainforest Trust are rated 4 stars (the top rating) on Charity Navigator, with 96% of the money they raise going directly into protecting the worlds rainforests.

Their current projects range from...

• Protecting wildlife corridors in the Belize rainforest
• Saving black rhino habitat in Kenya
• Saving river dolphins in Borneo
• Protecting the habitat of the bamboo lemur in Madagascar
• Creating gorilla sanctuary areas in the Congo
• Protecting rainforests in the Amazon and Indonesia…. 
• And literally hundreds more (check their website for a full list)
  

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send  unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity.