It’s with a heavy heart that we have to announce that the 2020 ForRangers Ultra has been postponed.
The ForRangers Ultra is one of the most exciting events in our calendar. Not only does it bring our incredible supporters together doing an activity that is built into our history, it also shares the stories of the heroic rangers that work each day to protect the magnificent animals we all care about.
Just like all the other organisations and people involved, we are gutted that the 2020 ForRangers Ultra will be postponed until 2021, but this action must be taken to safeguard the event’s participants, medics, support crews, volunteers and most importantly, the local people working in conservation.
David Hill, Events Manager at Save the Rhino International, says,
“Postponing the race has been a very tough decision for the organisers to make, but the health and safety of everyone involved is the top priority. The ForRangers Ultra is about more than medals, finisher t-shirts, PBs and Instagram stories. This really is a race for good; improving the lives of rangers that work on the front line of rhino conservation every single day. We look forward to welcoming all participants back for this incredible event in September 2021.”
In two years, the funds raised from the ForRangers Ultra have enabled ForRangers and Save the Rhino to donate more than a quarter of a million pounds, to improve ranger welfare and rhino conservation in Laikipia.
As a region, Laikipia is heavily reliant on tourism to benefit communities and conservation programmes. Almost overnight, the coronavirus outbreak has caused conservancies to shift their focus to survival mode as income that would otherwise come from tourism has disappeared. There are significant challenges ahead. ForRangers, Save the Rhino and Beyond the Ultimate are already working to provide support for the wildlife conservancies and the communities that are facing a crisis.
For those of you that signed up to the 2020 edition of the race, you will definitely have the opportunity to take part in the Ultra in September 2021.
We appreciate that this disruption will have an impact on your training and fundraising, but we hope that you will stick with us, to support the people and wildlife of Laikipia. We look forward to seeing on the start line in 18 months. If you have any questions about the event or this postponement, get in touch.