Born Free Foundation
Kilimanjaro and the Virgin London Marathon?
A walk in the park!
Sarah steps-up for wildlife with two gruelling challenges. With many people struggling to keep their New Year’s Resolutions and be more active in 2018, 23-year-old Sarah Locke, from Henfield, has put her money where her mouth is and will take on two epic physical challenges this spring, in aid of Horsham-based international wildlife charity Born Free.Sarah, who works as Executive Assistant to Born Free’s President, Will Travers OBE, will fly to Tanzania in early February, along with her younger sister Annabel, 19, and 13 other climbers, on a mission to conquer Africa’s highest peak - Mount Kilimanjaro. The trip, organised by the XP Club, a private members’ organisation which encourages entrepreneurship and achievement, will involve a gruelling seven-day trek through five different eco-systems including rainforest, alpine and glacial terrain, before they reach the summit, some 585 metres above sea level.
Sarah says: “I’ve always loved hiking and have climbed quite a few mountains in the UK. I have actually hiked the UK’s three highest mountains; Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis - not that they’ll be anything on Kilimanjaro of course!
“Now Christmas is officially over, my training has stepped up a bit! I think I’m most nervous about the altitude as it’s quite hard to prepare for and difficult to predict! Plus, the temperature is going to be a lot chillier than anything I hiked in before so I’m having to stock up on lots of warm gear.”
After returning from Tanzania, Sarah will have just eight weeks to step up her training for the Virgin London Marathon on the 22nd April. Having already completed several half marathons, including Brighton, Conwy and the Great North Run, Sarah has some distance running experience under her belt, but is not underestimating the challenge.
She says: “I do enjoy running once I’m out there but a full 26 miles will take some serious training. Plus running without the companion of my springer spaniel, Bilbo, is something I'll have to adjust to!
“What with both challenges being so close together, I can’t work out which I’m most excited for. Kilimanjaro will be such an experience, but once it’s over I think the marathon will catch up with me very quickly, so I’m trying to stay as prepared as I can.”
Sarah’s sponsorship money will go to two of Born Free’s partner projects. The first is SeaSense in Tanzania, which protects endangered marine turtles when they hatch from their nests and have to make the dangerous journey to the sea. The second half of the funds will go to a community-based programme in Kenya. Born Free engages communities with the local wildlife by supporting infrastructure improvements, providing educational resources, and tackling issues such as lack of renewable energy and clean water.
Born Free’s President, Will Travers OBE, who has himself successfully climbed Kilimanjaro twice, said: "When Sarah reaches the top and looks down from the Roof of Africa to the world spread out below, she will understand, as I did, why protecting the natural world and all life on earth is a mission to embrace for all time.”
To sponsor Sarah. Please visit: www.justgiving.com
To find out more about the work of the Born Free Foundation, go to: www.bornfree.org.uk
To find out more about the XP Club visit: www.thexpclub.com
Horsham-based Born Free launches Ivory Amnesty
11/01/18 11:02 Filed in: News
Born Free
Following this week's blanket media coverage of Born Free Co-Founder, Virginia McKenna OBE’s, appeal to the Antiques Roadshow to cease featuring ivory items and the BBC’s decision to review its ivory policy, Born Free, the Horsham-based international wildlife conservation charity, has launched an Ivory Amnesty aimed at people who no longer wish to have any ivory items in their possession.Virginia McKenna said: “I am sure there are many thousands of people who have unwanted ivory in their possession. At home, in a cupboard, on the mantelpiece, on a desk, in a drawer? I am also sure that there are many who are uncertain what to do with it.
“It seems clear to me that the government is likely to bring in measures that would make the re-selling of most ivory items in the UK illegal. The possession of ivory artefacts will be permitted, but at Born Free we recognise that many people have ivory they no longer feel comfortable owning and would like someone to take it off their hands. Born Free’s Ivory Amnesty is the answer!”
Born Free is asking members of the public to send in their unwanted ivory, which they guarantee will be destroyed. Born Free promises never to allow the ivory, or any of the ivory it holds in trust, to be sold or traded. The amnesty starts today and will run until 28th February.
Born Free Co-Founder and President Will Travers OBE, said: “If you decide to send us your ivory, we will send you a certificate confirming receipt of your item and acknowledging the important decision that you have made.
“Millions of citizens in the UK and worldwide reject the notion of putting a commercial value on ivory. For them, and for Born Free, the days of trade are over.
If you are one of these people and you have unwanted ivory, join our Ivory Amnesty, make your position clear and, together, let’s consign the ivory trade to history books - where it belongs.”
Ivory items should be sent, preferably by recorded delivery, to: Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, RH12 4QP.
For further clarification please email info@bornfree.org.uk.
Born Free Foundation
13/01/16 15:18 Filed in: charity
Early-bird ducklings have a lucky escape
With reports of daffodils in December and the warmest winter on record, it looks like spring has sprung much earlier than expected in 2016.It’s not just the local flora that has been confused by the unseasonably warm conditions, as last week, eight tiny ducklings were picked up in Emsworth, Hampshire, having hatched some four months earlier than expected.
These adorable little ‘early birds’, thought to be just a few days old when found, were rescued from the roadside after their mother and three siblings were tragically struck by a car and killed. They were taken to Arthur Lodge Veterinary Surgery in Horsham, who contacted Tarnya Knight, a local wildlife carer, who works for the Born Free Foundation.
Tarnya will now look after the mini-mallards until the spring. She said: “Normally you wouldn’t see ducklings until around April, but due to the unusually warm weather this little brood has hatched early. Depending on how cold it is outside, I’ll keep them indoors for a few weeks and then they’ll be moved to a duck pen outside where they will stay until they are old enough to fend for themselves.”
The eight ducklings have affectionately been nicknamed: Mike, Carol, Alice, Greg, Marcia, Peter, Jan, Bobby and Cindy, after the nine members of the ‘Brady Bunch’ family.
Tarnya added: ”Despite their sad start to life, these little ones are actually very lucky to have been brought to safety. By the time spring arrives officially, they will be ready to be released back into the wild.”
For more information about the Born Free Foundation and its work with UK and international wildlife, visit: www.bornfree.org.uk
Love art? Love supporting charity? Loving Life? Elephantastic!
20/05/15 13:09 Filed in: Elephantastic
Elephantastic loving life
Creativity will soon be flowing for primary school children in the Horsham area who will be putting forward ideas to win one of only three giant elephants to decorate for the town’s Elephantastic project.
The school that submits the most eye-catching and innovative design will receive the huge naked cardboard elephant which they will ‘dress to impress’ in readiness for its public appearances and ultimate auction to raise funds for the elephantastic charities. The Elephantastic spectacular is set to take Horsham by storm from 26 July through to 31 August where 150 unique and colourful elephants will brighten up the streets of the town centre and its surrounding rural areas.
Following the success of the giraffe trails in 2013, Elephantastic, organised by Horsham Rotary Club in partnership with Horsham District Council, local traders’ organisation, Horsham Unlimited and Billingshurst-based marketing agency PMW Communications, is set to be the biggest event of its kind at almost triple the size.
Earlier this week another of the giant models was delivered to its new owners at PMW Communications, where PR Director Gemma Hook had the pleasure of interviewing the elephant upon his arrival and got the inside scoop on the company’s latest recruit. The full interview can be found here >>> www.pmwcom.co.uk
John Le Rossignol at the Horsham Rotary Club commented: “There is so much room for creativity when it comes to Elephantastic, people are having a lot of fun with it. It’s been a crazy few weeks and we’ve certainly been kept on our toes with the influx of orders and shipping of the elephants. With fewer than 50 now left in stock businesses who want to be involved need to make themselves ‘herd’!”
“We are calling on companies located in the rural surroundings of the town in particular, to host the elephants as part of the countryside trails, it’s a fantastic opportunity to draw people to the area and be part of something really powerful and visually appealing.”
Almost 30 locally based charities are so far set to benefit from money raised including Elephantastic partner; the Born Free Foundation, Chestnut Tree House, CoCo’s Foundation, the Dame Vera Lynn Trust and also smaller charities such as Woods for Learning, the Phoenix Stroke Club, and local community groups.
For people who want to see elephants being decorated first-hand, artists from the Horsham Artists Open Studios Group are painting an elephant family during their Pop-Up exhibition in Swan Walk from Thursday 21 May through to Sunday 24 May.
ABOUT ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IN GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND - Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland www.rotarygbi.org is a volunteer organisation where members use their skills and their time to improve the lives of others while having great fun in the process. There are nearly 1,800 Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland and 51,000 members. Rotary is open to anyone aged 18 and upwards. All that is required is a positive attitude and a sense of adventure. Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago and is now the world’s largest international service organisation with 1.2 million professional men and women as members. There are 33,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas.
ABOUT BORN FREE - The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care. Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles and many more species in their natural habitat, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Our high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free please visit: www.bornfree.org.uk