“You must be
the change you wish to see in the World”- Mahatma
Gandhi

Thirty one years ago, the opinion that Kenya
might fence all its mountain forests was widely regarded as a mad idea… and a
mission impossible.

To date, over 600 kilometers of fence
line have been completed around three major forests and a fourth is in progress,
in addition to this a conservation curricula has been developed and is now being
taught in 32 schools around Mt. Eburu and the Aberdare Mountain range for the
education of our younger generation, which is the key for the long term future
of these eco systems.

Change is happening indeed.  A transformation of thinking and action so
profound and so universal that even more impossible missions are now being
considered – like establishing eco corridors between the mountain forests and
lakes, which has already begun to happen.

Somewhere in
this extraordinary process of change there must have been a lot of people who
were the change they wanted to see.

There were.  There still are.  And there must continue to be.

There is one who stands out as a giant
among these, Alan McKittrick, with 15 years highest cash sponsorship and 4
first overall victories. Alan has lead Team 5 for 30 years in the mission of
changing the way we think of conservation and has built up a team of young
people to carry on with his vision. Last year he has handed the baton over to Graham
Mckittrick, Kyle Ray and Jonathan Bovard that we may continue to carry the
message of the Rhino Charge and all that it entails into the future.

Team 5 members consist of, Philip Walton our navigator, Rob Anderson a new runner and Wolfie Walton. Driving
has been taken over by Jonathan Bovard, point has been taken over by Graham
McKittrick and lead runner remains Kyle Ray. We look forward to the challenges
ahead, both pre-charge and the actual event.

By the very highest international
standards in these matters, Rhino Charge achieves an exceptional conversion of
sponsorship to core purpose, and its concept is almost uniquely win-win for all
interests – human and environment.

Rhino Charge is not just a matter of
chipping in to the collection plate; it is an imperative to stand up and be
counted, to take an active part, to build and sustain not only a budget but a
driving force of public awareness and opinion that policy cannot ignore. And it
is that spirit we urge you to maintain. 
If the ultimate goals are to be achieved and sustained, then all of us
must accept to be the change we wish to see.