The future of our Rhino populations in South Africa is reliant on individual ambassadors, those individuals prepared to do something meaningful to assist our Rhinos. One of the active Wildlands’ Rhino Ambassadors is Paddy Collins, a teacher at Highbury Preparatory School in Hillcrest. Each year over the past 5 years, Paddy has coordinated the Maputaland Challenge, a 75km run from Sodwana Bay to Bhanga Nek, along back roads parallel to the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, primarily with the aim of raising environmental awareness amongst the school boys, and raising funds for their designated charities.
During late September this year, this event was run for the 5th consecutive year, with 20 Highbury School boys taking part with Paddy, along with a group of Maputaland Challenge supporters. The participants ran in groups of 5, each runner handing over to the next in his group after a stint of about 10kms. The running was extremely tough as the route is all on soft sand along 4×4 tracks. On many days, temperatures rose to the mid 30’s, making it extremely challenging.
Paddy Collins and the boys from Highbury School managed to raise R65 000, which was split equally between the Wildlands Conservation Trust and the Hillcrest Crisis Centre.
Besides being able to raise money to help Wildlands in their valuable Rhino work, this event gave the young participants the opportunity to experience the beauty of this pristine corner of their province in a very special way. The physical challenge is also a tool through which character is forged and one’s personal goals achieved.
“We commend Paddy for his amazing commitment to fostering the environmental awareness of our young minds in this country, and building them into our future Rhino Ambassadors. We thank Paddy and the Highbury boys for their amazing support of the Wildland’s Rhino work, and commit ourselves to continuing the fight against the Rhino poaching crisis,” stated Kevin McCann (Wildlands Strategic Manager) at the cheque handover event.
WILDTRUST (registered as the Wildlands Conservation Trust - IT No: 4329/1991/PMB)