What will I be doing?

On 10th September, I'll be racing in the 2023 Richmond Marathon to raise money for Rainforest Trust UK. This will be my first ever marathon! I've never run further than 25k before so this will definitely be a challenge for me. I'm both nervous and excited...

Why Rainforest Trust UK?

It's no secret I absolutely love the outdoors. One of my favourite things to do is explore and hike stunning places around the world. It's through doing this I've developed an overwhelming appreciation for how remarkable Planet Earth is; its array of weird and wonderful flora and fauna never fails to astonish me. Not only this, but as a geography graduate (too many years ago now...), I feel incredibly passionate about the environment and am continuously intrigued by its intrinsic relationship with people. 

With that said, tropical rainforests are the most biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems in the world. They are home to 50% of the world's species (many of which are endangered) and thousands of indigenous communities rely on these forests for their survival. They're also one of Earth's largest carbon sinks - they store a sh*t ton of carbon - which are vital in the ongoing fight against climate change. Yet every day we lose 70,000 acres of rainforest to deforestation. 

Enter: Rainforest Trust UK... 

Who are Rainforest Trust UK?

Rainforest Trust UK save endangered wildlife and protect our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement and donor support. They believe the simplest and most cost-effective solution to prevent deforestation is to create legally-recognised protected areas where forests and their species can continue contributing to the health of the global ecosystem. They also work to empower local and indigenous people by securing them ownership and management of land and natural resources through many of their projects. 

Rainforest Trust UK have already placed 45 million acres under permanent protection, helping save thousands of critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species in the process. 

With your support and encouragement, I hope to help them accomplish even more... Any donation you wish to give, big or small, will be so appreciated. Thank you!

PS. Just a few extra fun facts for the nerds like me out there...

The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest, and is home to:

• 1.5 million indigenous people, distributed across 385 ethnic groups
• 40,000 plant species
• 1,300 bird species
• 3,000 types of fish
• 427 species of mammals
• 2.5 million different insects

Incredible, huh?