Thank you for visiting our fundraising page.

We are trying to raise funds for gorilla conservation, by taking part in the gorilla run - organised by the Gorilla Organisation - on Saturday 22nd September, in London.  (We just walked - we don't do running at our age, and not dressed up in those hot furry suits!) 

We had a great day.  Dressed up as "ra ra"gorillas !  And jolly warm it was too - especially inside those rubbery heads.......... but we managed the 7km with no problems.  And we even got a hug from Bill Oddie at the end of it.

The Gorilla Organisation used to be called the Dian Fossey Gorilla Organisation - but changed their name last year, partly as they now work not only to help mountain gorillas (as Dian did) but also lowland gorillas, which are now in even greater need of assistance than the mountain ones.  Though the mountain gorillas and the eastern lowland gorillas have been red list endangered species, the western lowland gorillas have just recently also been classified on the IUCN red list.  The Gorilla Organisation will shortly be starting projects to help them too, in Cameroun.

We believe passionately that gorilla conservation is important and necessary.  Without expertise, help and funds from the West, the gorillas will not survive. 

However on 24th July there was a horribe reminder of the problems:

"Four Mountain gorillas shot dead in DRC massacre"

The report, from the  Gorilla Organisation says:  

 "Local communities devastated by conservation setback  
In the early hours of 24 July 2007, the Gorilla Organization was called to investigate the horrific shooting of four endangered Mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Rangers heard rounds of gun-fire at around 19:30 on Sunday 22 July, and the following morning found the bodies of three female Mountain gorillas from the Rugendo family group. The murdered gorillas were identified as Safari and Neza, who both had young babies, and Mburanumwe, who was pregnant at the time of her death. The following day rangers found a fourth fatality – this time it was the silverback Senkwekwe, the group’s magnificent alpha male."

You can read the rest of the report at:  http://www.gorillas.org/gorilla_Shootings_July07

Can one say more?

Need one say more?

If you can help us raise our target (we each need to raise £400 for the race) we will be sincerely grateful.  (Even £5 is much appreciated!) 

You can find out more about the work of the Gorilla Organisation on their website at   www.gorillas.org

About Just Giving. They say:   Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. I t is also the most efficient way to sponsor us:  the Gorilla Organization will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

If you can help - many, many thanks for your support.

Jessica and Sarah