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Runners dressed as elephants
take over Heaton Park to fund conservation efforts
AN unusual sight greeted Heaton Park
last weekend as a stampede of elephants, fun runners dressed as elephants, took
to Heaton Park last weekend to raise money for a charity that protects
endangered species.
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The Enormous Elephant Run saw a parade of 'elephants' taking on the 5k
and 10k challenge, raising money for the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT);
a charity dedicated to the protection of wildlife and habitats in Kenya.
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"We wanted a new way for people to get
engaged in our work and the plight of elephants," said Amie Alden, the
DSWT's Fundraising Officer and the race's organizer.
So far, the race series has raised over £110,000 over the past two years but
"today, Africa's elephants need our help more than ever before," Rob Brandford, the UK Director of the DSWT told the Bury Times.
"Across Africa, one elephant is killed every 15 minutes for their tusks to fuel
an increasing demand for ivory."
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All the funds raised from the event go
directly to the DSWT and help aid its mission. There are currently 78 elephants
in the trust's care at their orphanage and three Reintegration Centres in Kenya.
To date, the DSWT has also successfully rescued and reintegrated 95 orphan
elephants back into the wild.
For anyone that missed the Run, Alden adds, the charity has plenty more suits
for anyone who wants to take on a fundraising challenge for Africa's elephants
dressed as a member of the species!
Find out more about the work of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
online.
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