I am running the Brighton marathon to raise money for our field site at Kasanka National Park in Zambia. Kasanka is home to the world's largest mammal migration, with millions of fruit bats travelling thousands of miles to a small patch of marshy woodland. Sadly, Zambia has the highest deforestation rate in Africa and illegal forest clearance is already threatening not just the bats, but a myriad of amazing wildlife in and around the Park. Poaching is also an ever present problem.

One of the best ways to secure a future for wildlife is for it to be valued by local communities. Starting this year with a collaborative agreement with the Kasanka Trust and the refurbishment of Kinda Camp, our regular field courses provide employment for field scouts, cooks, and builders, whilst also giving students the chance to experience conservation in action.

Your sponsorship will enable us to buy solar panels to reduce oil and firewood consumption in the park, and provide rechargeable head torches for staff working to protect wildlife in difficult and remote conditions.

It is fair to say that my marathon preparation hasn't been ideal, being interrupted by Covid and injury. I will step off the plane from Zambia two days before the big race, with training over the previous fortnight having stopped rather than tapered! Every pound you give will help me to get round the 26.2 miles to the finishing post.