On the 6th December I will be in Namibia taking part in The
Nedbank Desert Dash, a 24 hour, 373km Mountain Bike challenge crossing the
world’s oldest desert. The challenge kicks off from Windhoek (the Capital) making
its way west off-road through the remote Namib Desert to Swakopmund on the west
coast.

I was fortunate enough, during my visit to Namibia last year,
to experience the hard work and dedication of the Anti-poaching Rangers working
at the forefront of tackling the current epidemic levels of Rhino and Elephant poaching.
For Rangers are a charity who are raising money for the welfare of rangers who
risk their lives daily to protect Africa’s endangered species. By taking part
in this challenge I hope to draw attention not only to the plight of Africa’s
wildlife and the poaching crisis but importantly, the hardships and dangers the
rangers are exposed to in trying to protect our wildlife. And in doing so,
raise funds that go directly to rangers’ welfare.

"They are the most important aspect of protecting
wildlife - trusted boots on the ground – men who are prepared and trained to
work long hours monitoring and protecting our wildlife. The cost of equipping
and training a single front-line ranger for a year is a little over $6,000 USD."

All profits from our fundraising will go entirely to the
thousands of rangers supported by For Rangers. It will be invested in basic
equipment to make their lives easier in the field, towards educational
opportunities for their children and, with over a thousand rangers having been
killed in the line of duty across Africa since 2003, towards the welfare of a
Ranger’s family should the worst happen.

I thank you in advance for any donations.