Fancy challenging yourself but making it a little wilder? Well, Chester Zoo is looking for 2,500 runners to take on a charity run through the zoo‘s grounds in aid of its efforts to save highly threatened giraffes. Chester Zoo’s 10K ‘Run For Nature‘, now in its third year, is set for Sunday 21 September, in addition to a brand new 5km run
Only 2,500 spaces are up for grabs and runners will stomp through the 128-acre zoo, racing past Asian elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, camels and giant otters – all before continuing out into the wider Cheshire countryside and circling back to the finish line at the zoo. Runners of all abilities are invited to take part in the 10K and 5K races and a special one mile ‘Zoom’ fun run will also take place for children between the age of 4 – 15 years old.
All participants will also receive a wooden medal at the finish line and free entry to Chester Zoo for the remainder of the day, giving them the chance to relax and celebrate their achievement among 30,000 amazing animals. Top fundraisers will also be in with a chance to win a variety of prizes including annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions and special behind-the-scenes zoo experiences.
All proceeds will go directly towards protecting Nubian giraffes, which have seen drastic population declines in the wild due to habitat loss, poaching and conflict with humans. The money will support the zoo’s vital conservation work in East Africa, which is safeguarding the species for the future.
Sarah Jones, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing back Run For Nature for a third incredible year. We’ve now doubled the distance runners spend inside the zoo, so they’ll pass by even more iconic animals – a really special experience you won’t get anywhere else.
“Not only that, but each person will be supporting our giraffe conservation projects in East Africa, which include monitoring populations in the wild, supporting anti-poaching efforts and working with communities to safeguard vital habitats. This work has already seen the safe translocation of several Nubian giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda to help the species thrive.
“Whether you’re running the full 10km, taking on the 5km challenge, or joining in the Zoom run for kids, there really is something for everyone and each route is relatively flat, so be prepared for a new PB! Registration is now open for all three events, so just sign up online and we’ll post everything you need straight to your door – complete with your bib number and fundraising information. We’re expecting places to go fast, so don’t hang around!”
You can register for Chester Zoo’s Run For Nature 10K, 5K challenge or the one mile Zoom run for children here.