My Name is Rory Clarke,  I’m 3 years old and I really love animals. David Attenborough is one of my favourite television programmes and when Mummy and Daddy ask me what I’d like to do at the weekend I always try to get them to take me to my favourite place in the world —Chester Zoo. 

I have been to the zoo lots and lots of times before and I took my baby brother Finlay for his first visit just before the gates closed, because of the corona virus, when he was only a few weeks old. 

When I grow up I would like to be a zoo keeper and although I really love Okapis and Oryx my favourite animal by far is the giraffe.

 I love giraffes so much that when my mummy asked me what super hero I’d like to be I said a super giraffe, which I now am. 

I’m also very good at walking and since corona virus began have been walking all around the Ribble valley with my Mummy, Daddy, my little brother and my doggy Alvin, and even though I’m only small I can walk a very long way. 

Did you know that Giraffes are the world's tallest mammals, thanks to their towering legs and long necks?  A giraffe's legs alone are taller than many humans. These long legs allow giraffes to run as fast as 35 miles an hour and cruise comfortably at 10 miles an hour over the wide expanse of the African savanna.

When me and my family found out that our beloved zoo was in trouble we really wanted to help (mostly because I’m hoping they will give me a job when I’m big enough) 

We had a little think about how we could help and decided that I should try and walk as far as a giraffe 🦒! With a little maths and imagination we worked out that if a giraffe walked all day at 10mph it would cover 120 miles - which is a very long way.  So that’s how far I’m going to go - maybe not in a day though because my bedtime is at 7pm.

So here goes.... my challenge is for me to walk 120 miles in 8 weeks - dressed as Rory the super giraffe of course.  As you can see I will be doing the hard bit but you could help me to save my zoo by digging deep into your pockets and sponsoring me for a pound or two in aid of my cause ......please?

I am aiming to raise a pound for every mile -  £120 - and mummy says if I manage it we can go back to the zoo as soon as they reopen (which along with giraffe stickers is my main motivation if I’m honest) 

Please help me save my favourite place and keep an eye on my progress! Wish me and my little legs luck!  Thankyou so much x

From the zoo-:

The gates may be closed, but Chester Zoo is still doing all it can to prevent extinction. From conservation at the zoo with 35,000 animals, to helping wildlife organisations across the world to manage the impact of this global crisis, Chester Zoo is determined not to let coronavirus stand in the way of its vital mission. At such a time of crisis and uncertainty for everyone, I have chosen to raise funds for Chester Zoo so they can use it where they need it most and continue to make their mission of preventing extinction a reality and ensure the survival of species for the future.Together, we can act for wildlife!