On behalf of African Parks (www.africanparks.org) we are running the London Marathon on 23 April 2023. Our names are Ortencia, Malidja, Jean Sekou, Jean-Paul, Dieudonne, Numwa, Patrick, and Rowland and we make up 8 of more than 1,400 rangers employed by African Parks to help protect over 20 million hectares of ecologically diverse landscapes across Africa, forming the largest counter poaching team of any one NGO.

We come from Pendjari National Park in Benin, Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Majete Wildlife Reserve and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in Malawi, Bazaruto Archipelago National Park in Mozambique, and Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia.

African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the direct responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. There are currently 22 national parks and protected areas under African Parks management across 12 countries. Together with our colleagues, we work tirelessly to protect and preserve the areas under our management, providing long-term stability and safety for people, wildlife, and Africa's remaining wilderness areas.

By supporting us and African Parks, you will contribute towards:

1. The training and equipping of the rangers, including recruiting and training more female rangers;

2. Supporting conservation and biodiversity, including the monitoring of endangered species; and

3. Supporting health and education initiatives with local communities.

You will also help African Parks' mission to protect 30 parks by 2030. We are proud to have this chance to represent African Parks and to raise awareness of the vital work required to ensure each park is ecologically, socially, and financially sustainable in the long-term. Please help us by donating to African Parks.

Thank you,

Ortencia, Malidaja, Jean Sekou, Jean-Paul, Dieudonné, Numwa, Patrick, and Roland.