Saturday 25th July
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
Enormous Elephant Run
Manchester - Heaton Park
For those still unaware, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, based in Kenya has cared for orphaned elephants since 1977.
They have a dedicated team of ele-carers headed by the incredible Dame Daphne Sheldrick, and have successfully cared for over 150 eleorphans.
I've written about elephant poaching before (please see Blood and Ivory); we know we cannot stop it over night but events like the Enormous Elephant Run highlights the plight and brings it to the attention of the media.
Despite the atrocities of poaching and the lengths poachers will go to in order to obtain ivory or rhino horn, the media still views it as a fluffy animal story, even though the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts is the second largest illegal trade.
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| Image: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org |
Some have been victims of poaching - having seen their family massacred, others have been found lost and separated from their families.
Caring for these eleorphans is 24 hours, every single day.
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| Simotua, found with a snare wound on his leg and a spear wound to his head Image: sheldrickwildlifetrust.org |
The Elephant Run (ironic, as elephants cannot run - as it turned out, neither could I!!) had two events, one in Manchester and the other held in London.
I took part in the run at Heaton Park, Manchester; I've never run before, not in school or even for a bus, but for this I made an exception. As a complete amateur, I decided it would be best to stick to the 5km run, with the promise of doing the 10km next year (though I'll probably walk!!).
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| The pre-run warm up. Couldn't figure out which foot went first!! Image: Matt Ratcliffe |
As it turned out, I managed it in around 40 minutes! Hurrah!
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| Me and Jo (right) with our medals! |
It was brilliant to see so many ele runners and we were grateful for a lovely day!
And an incredible £60,000 was raised for DSWT!
Sponsorship for the runners is open until the 25th August, so please give what you can, and if you fancy doing a bit extra, you can always foster an orphan!!
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| Hazel, Audrey and Dawn Liverpool's Global March for Elephants and Rhinos volunteering at the run! |
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| Runner 181 |
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| I came third for most money raised (as of 22 July) and Jo came first!!! |
Thank you DSWT for a brilliant day!!!
