[HALF MARATHON COMPLETE! 1:35:15 and 15th place. See 'Updates' section below!]

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On Sunday, September 15th I will be participating in my first half marathon event (that's 13.1mi or 21km!) to raise money for Butterfly Conservation, a British conservation charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK.

Without Butterfly Conservation's support, I would not have been able to start a PhD at the University of Northampton in 2018 studying the ecology of the Chequered Skipper butterfly and its reintroduction to Rockingham Forest, Northamptonshire after the species’ extinction from England in 1976. As a consequence of being granted this wonderful opportunity, Butterfly Conservation is a charity very close to my heart.

Through the amazing research collaboration between Northampton and BC, I have been fortunate to meet many of the charity's wonderful staff stationed at its Head Office in Dorset, committee members of its regional branches, and network of volunteers––all of whom work tirelessly to champion the plight of our beautiful, fragile butterflies and moths, which are threatened by massive environmental change and habitat loss. 

Seeing how hard these people are working for our kaleidoscopic invertebrates and what a huge difference donations make behind the scenes inspired me to give back more than my research findings and tiny membership fee. I can think of nothing better than training up and going the distance to help save butterflies and moths!

If you can afford to give any amount to support my run, please do so. I, and Butterfly Conservation, will be hugely grateful! If you would like to learn more about why butterflies and moths are important, please follow this link: https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/why-butterflies-matter. 

The Cransley Hospice half marathon road race starts at 11am in Cranford, Northamptonshire. I'll be there in my Butterfly Conservation running top, so keep an eye out for me!

~Thank you so much for your support~