Fundraising for Rhino Conservation: Kylene’s London Marathon Story
Guest article by Kylene Wright
Kylene Wright has been a dedicated fundraiser for Save the Rhino International since 2019. This year, she joined our 2026 London Marathon Crash, raising vital funds to support rhino conservation across Africa and Asia. In this guest blog, Kylene shares the fundraising methods, lessons and inspiration that helped her exceed her fundraising target and make a real difference for rhinos.
(Total raised for the London Marathon as of 27 April – £4,431 or $6,007.65.)
How Kylene Raises Funds for Rhino Conservation
From my experience, the most important part of successful fundraising is the passion put into it. Most of my donors know how dear rhinoceros conservation is to me and want to support someone so passionate. People who are less interested or invested in their own cause are what lead to unsuccessful fundraising. If you are truly passionate and determined about what you are doing, someone is going to support you.
That said, over the last ten months of preparing for the London Marathon, I gathered donations in many ways:
Fundraising Ideas for Rhino Conservation
Holidays and Birthdays
Instead of requesting items, I asked people to donate to my cause.
Vendor Tables
In true Kylene fashion, I blabbed about my love for rhinos with a local store owner, who happened to also run events for local artists. She offered me a table right away, and once a month for the entire summer, I would set up shop with homemade vegan rhino sugar cookies.
Running in Fashion
I spent my summer training for the marathon dressed in an inflatable rhinoceros suit, with a large QR code to my fundraising page attached to the front and back. I got plenty of looks and even a few donations.
It’s important to remember that while not everyone will donate, everyone who saw knew what I was about. Getting people to pay attention is equally important.
Business Cards
I created my very own “Running for Rhinos” London Marathon 2026 business cards and left them with people and on local notice boards. Coffee shops were places I frequented and left behind cards.
Social Media
Keeping up with my dedicated Instagram charity page kept my supporters up to date on what I was currently doing. I also kept a countdown going for the London Marathon.
Local News Stations
I wrote emails to my local news stations, seeing if anyone was interested in talking about my cause and what I was about. Of the many I reached out to, I was successful in hearing back from one.
Employer and Business Donations
Ask your employer (or even other local businesses) to donate or match donations. This is a great way of acquiring larger donations. From my experience, there are plenty of businesses open to listening and, if all works out, offering a donation.
Why Passion Matters in Fundraising for Rhino Conservation
Understand that the worst someone can say is simply no. There is never any harm in asking for donations, and never any harm in expressing your passion.
These were all the methods I approached in fundraising over the last ten months and was successful in the end. All you can do is ask!
If you are truly passionate about something, your audience should feel it from you. That’s when people are most willing to donate, open to listening, and ready to care.
Instagram: @kylenes_rhino_passion