Enter the Rhino & Restoration Challenge before 4 August
Runners of all ilk, as well as wanna-be runners, are encouraged to enter the Rhino & Restoration Challenge before the 4th of August 2022 in support of conservation projects in the Eastern Cape. The challenge is being driven by the Be Moved Collective, founded by Lance Wynne in April 2020 to draw people together to support good causes, particularly focused on the environment.
Funds will support Be Moved’s work to help establish the Albany Biodiversity Corridor. The vision is to drop fences between various game reserves between Addo Elephant National Park and the Great Fish River Nature Reserve, forming a mega reserve that will enable the free movement of animals within a much larger area, and enhancing the biodiversity of the region. Working towards this goal, Be Moved is focusing on projects like the building of the Bushman’s River Wildlife Underpass to enable wildlife to cross under the N2 highway, and a Rhino Ranger Programme that will both create employment and drive the conservation efforts of the region. If enough people get behind the Challenge, the underpass will be built and the first rangers will be in the field in 2022!
After paying a R 150 entry fee via Quicket, entrants are sent a challenge ‘bib’ that looks like a running race bib, along with a host of interesting resources sharing information about the expansion and restoration project.
Wynne runs the tour operator Runcation, hosting athletes who take part in ultra-trail events such as Ultra-trail Cape Town, Ultra-trail Drakensberg and Sani Stagger, also taking them on a conservation-focused safari to the Eastern Cape to see the Big 5.
This is where he saw the great need for fundraising for conservation in the area, and with a vision to develop numerous adventure experiences across the entire region, Be Moved is currently focusing their effort under the Addo2Fish banner, and has established the Addo2Fish Marathon in April 2022. By hosting a group of people for a 5-day conservation safari and marathon amongst the Big 5 each year, Be Moved seeks to bring people closer to the project and support the development of the initiative.
As a runner working with runners, Wynne initially created the Rhino & Restoration Challenge as a ‘runner’s challenge’, but in no way is it exclusively for runners and everyone is encouraged to be a part of it. You can enter purely in support of the cause, or enter and take a photo to be considered for prizes.
“Maybe the challenge will kick-start a few running journeys while kick-starting the conservation dream. Healthy You, Healthy Planet,” says Wynne.
“Encourage your friends, your running clubs and crews, to get behind conservation and enter the challenge. In order to be considered for amazing prizes, R&R Challenge participants must enter the photo competition. Prizes include a conservation safari, entries to prestigious running events as well as amazing beer and wine prizes.”
For more information and to enter the challenge, visit Rhinos and Restoration – Be Moved Collective or go directly to the Quicket page to enter.
