Huge congrats to our magnificent rhino runners team that completed the London Marathon 2019 – what a day it was!
Yesterday, marking the year of Save the Rhino’s 25th Birthday, a crash of 58 magnificent runners stormed the streets of London in the name of rhino conservation.
The conditions were perfect, the runners were charged up from our team gathering the day before – everyone was raring to chase Sir Mo and Eliud Kipchoge through the capital!
Our speediest runner, hot on Sir Mo’s heels, was Luke Ashworth, who whipped around the course in a phenomenal 2:47. Our fastest female runner was Louise Van der Westhuizen, finishing in 4:05.
Of course, our costume runners were cheered every step of their 26.2 miles, with all 15 heroes racing back to the picnic in St James’ Park. First home was Chris Green (who is running 20 marathons for Save the Rhino this year!) in an incredible time of 4:32, smashing his own PB in the suit by a whopping 35 minutes. Crashing through the finish line soon after Chris, Liz Winton was the fastest female costume runner to come in, with a speedy 4:55.
“Absolutely incredible day! Always an absolute privilege to run for Save the Rhino and today was my favourite of all, thanks to an amazing team! Feel like I have made a ton of friends so thank you everyone! I’m already looking forward to running with you all again”, Rhino Boy Chris
A special mention to Vicky Rees, our resident London Marathon rhino, who crossed the finish line in costume for her 8th consecutive year. Vicky has never run a marathon without costume – pure dedication!
We would also like to give a huge shout out to Christopher Sims, who popped his trainers back on 30 years after his last marathon and raised an impressive £27,617 for rhinos.
So far the team have raised an incredible £131,926, with sponsorship continuing to stream in (the final total will be announced at the beginning of June). The London Marathon is our biggest fundraising event of the year and is incredibly important for allowing us to continue supporting our rhino conservation programmes across Africa and Asia. Please help support this year’s brilliant team, and help us reach our target.
Eight of the rhino team this year were from two of our rhino programmes in Zambia (North Luangwa National Park) and Zimbabwe (Gonarezhou National Park), who dealt with a cold London day like professionals, striding through and still smiling at the finish line.
Every year you, our amazing runners, astound us with your passion, dedication and enthusiasm. We could not be prouder to have you in our rhino family. Marathon day is certainly one of the happiest in our rhino lives, thank you all so much! We will be back next year, who’s with us?!
Interested in joining the 2020 rhino team? The Virgin Money London Marathon ballot is open until 5 pm, Friday 3 May 2019. Find out more and enter the ballot here; results will be released in late 2019.