Due to increasing demand, rhino poaching has increased from just 10 rhinos per year in 2004, to 1215 rhinos per year in 2014, and this statistic does not even include the lucky few who survive the attack! If we do not stop this illegal trade now, our rhinos are sure to be driven to extinction in the next few years.

Saving the Survivors was set up by vets Dr Johan Marais and Dr Gerhard Steenkamp in 2012. Their amazing team of people are dedicated to care for the victims of rhino poachings, including those that have been wounded, those where the horn has been hacked off and victims of snaring and traumatic incidents. Their tireless work helps an estimated 80-120 rhino survivors per year, and all started with two rhinos called Themba and Thandi, who were horrifically poached and left for dead in a pool of their own blood. Unfortunately after 24 days, Themba lost his fight and passed away. But thanks to this inspirational team of people, Thandi survived and has now gone on to have a calf of her own, a little boy named Thembi. 

In summer 2015, as I'm sure most of you are aware, I was given the amazing opportunity to go out to South Africa and work with vet Dr William Fowlds who worked closely with Thandi and Themba, left me with a day I would never forget. The day I met Hope. Hope is a very special rhino who was poached in May 2015 and was left for dead with one of the worst wounds the team had ever seen. Dr Will Fowlds and the Saving the Survivors team have worked endlessly to develop new innovative treatments in the form of a face shield in an attempt to save Hope from fatal infection. Unfortunately, due to the devastating amount of damage the poachers caused by hacking off, not only her horn, but much of her underlying bone, fitting the newly invented shields has proved to be an almost impossible task. Nevertheless they have not given up and thanks to her resilience an fight, Hope is now on the road to recovery. Watching and assisting with this brave rhinos 5th procedure is a day that will stick with me forever.

Anyone who knows me (and Becca) will know that RUNNING 10K will NOT be easy for us, but we are determined to raise as much money and awareness as we can for this INCREDIBLE organisation! Please please sponsor us and help us reach our target of at least £500, and help spread the word of rhino poaching. Education is key to putting a stop to this awful trade and the survival of these beautiful and majestic creatures! 

Please see pictures and video below and for more information of what the Saving the Survivors team is about visit: www.savingthesurvivors.org