This coming April a team of six of us are joining African Parks rangers to run the London Marathon in support of African Parks.  African Parks is going to participate in the London Marathon with a small group of donors and 8 of its fastest rangers from different parks.

For over 20 years, African Parks has been successfully managing and rehabilitating protected areas for the benefit of people and wildlife. They, African Parks, manage 22 parks throughout Africa, in 12 countries, an area the size of Great Britain.

African Parks has an ambition to grow to 30 parks by 2030 and they have a major funding need in the coming years. We invite you to please support our endeavours at the London Marathon and for African Parks, and for the rangers who risk their lives to protect the parks and its wildlife.

African Parks mission is vital and it is one that cannot be achieved without the rangers who work on the frontlines. African Parks' rangers risk their lives every day in the name of conservation and without their presence on the ground, no effective law enforcement is possible 

(You can view our promotional video here).

We formed this team in support of African Parks rangers throughout African Parks' 22 protected sites, and wanted to run alongside the eight rangers representing African Parks. We cannot do the role they do day in and day out, but we can support them and the organization with your help. 

Gavin Caudle, Toddy Sugoto, Sebastian Kulczyk, Wojtek Kruczynski, Chris McCormack and Rajiv Louis:  We are a varied group of corporate leaders from Poland, Australia, Singapore and Indonesia who care deeply about the environment and have come together as we recognize the urgent need to protect and preserve Africa's remaining wild places for the biodiversity within these areas; the local communities who rely on these areas for clean water, clean air, employment opportunities and more; as well as all of Africa and the world.  If we lose these areas we lose them forever. We are running together to raise funding to support African Parks, a conservation non-profit organization.  

We hope you will join us and be part of our virtual support team. We face some daunting challenges and we do not have the luxury of time. 

We are being mentored and trained by our coach, Chris "Macca" McCormack, world champion triathlete, who is preparing us all for race day. We may not keep up with the rangers, but our objectives are a shared one and we hope you will join us in supporting the rangers and African Parks.  

To give you a sense of the immediate and direct impact your support will have:

●     £100 provides a Ranger with rations for a
month (including beans, flour, rice, oil, tinned sardines, corned beef, soap, milk, coffee etc.)

●     £250 brings solar lighting during the darkest nights

●     £300 ensures access to a life-saving patrol
medical kit

●     £500 outfits a Ranger (boots, socks, “boonie” field hat and uniform)

●     £1,000 provides us with critical equipment
including items such as a water filter, headlamp, Alice (all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment) pack, a tent, a mosquito net and a jungle hammock

●     £20,000 trains a new group of 25 Rangers

Our goal of GBP200,000 will mean that our fellow Rangers are well equipped, well trained and ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead.

Together, we can create a lasting impact - before it is too late. We look forward to keeping you posted.

Rajiv Louis (Indonesia/USA)

Gavin Caudle (Singapore/Indonesia)

Toddy Sugoto (Indonesia)

Sebastian Kulczyk (Poland)

Wojtek Kruczynski (Poland)

The Coach:  Chris “Macca” McCormack (Team Coach - World Champion triathlete, Iron Man record holder).  Chris McCormack, or Macca as he is affectionately known, is one of endurance sport's most iconic athletes.  Globally regarded as the best triathlete of his generation, Macca rose through the ranks as a winner and fan favorite with his trademark mix of quick wit and the athletic ability to deliver wins in 250 international races and landing on the podium 89% of the time.  Macca owns one of the best athletic winning statistics in modern sport, a testament to his discipline and race day execution.

The Rangers:

Patrick Sandipite Elenimo - Nkhotakota Wildlife, (Malawi)

Rowland “the Cheetah” Phiri - Majete Wildlife Reserve (Malawi)

Jean Paul Lokosa Lasuba - Garamba National Park (DRC)

Ortencia Vilanculo - Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (Mozambique) 

Numwa Numwa - Liuwa Plain National Park (Zambia)

Dieudonne Matongo Okodoma - Garamba National Park (DRC)

Yissiman Jean Sekou - Pendjari National Park (Benin)

Malidja Djalouoli - Pendjari National Park (Benin)

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.