Sport

The Chester Zoo 10k returns for a crucial fundraising cause

Is this the best 10k route ever?

Danny Jones - 27th June 2024

Runners, listen up because the much-loved Chester Zoo 10k is back for 2024 and this year’s run aligns with an important national day in the world of animal conservation.

Just the second time the charity event has taken place, Chester Zoo‘s ‘Run For Nature’ proved a success in its inaugural year and is now set to welcome 2,500 racers to the world-renowned and award-winning wildlife park for one of the coolest routes to jog around you could ever ask for.

In case you were in any doubt, yes, those taking part will stomp through the 128-acre zoo, racing
past Asian elephants, the rare Rothschild’s giraffes, camels, giant otters and more – all before continuing
out into the wider Cheshire countryside and circling back to the finish line at the zoo.

Say no more, sign us up.

RUN 10K AT THE ZOO AND HELP SAVE RHINOS🦏

Join us on Sunday 22 September 2024 for our Run For Nature 10K event!

YOU will stomp past elephants, giant otters and giraffes before we open our gates to the public. Then, pick up your sustainable medal and enjoy a FREE day at the zoo… pic.twitter.com/LqrCK9s2DQ
— Chester Zoo (@chesterzoo) June 26, 2024

Most importantly, this year’s Chester Zoo 10k lands on World Rhino Day, a global moment of observance and recognition of the majestic creatures which are still sadly threatened with potential extinction.

People from all over the globe gather together every try to raise awareness and money for this important cause on 22 September every year, and now both you and the zoo can do your bit lacing up your running shoes and simply going for a jog.

There were once more than 500,000 rhinos roaming across Africa, Asia and parts of Europe; now there are just 25,000 on the entire planet, including those kept in conservation facilities like Chester’s, but the hope is that with the money generated through initiatives like this, the population can rise once again.

Runners of all abilities are being invited to take part in the main 10K and there’s even a special one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run for kids aged 4-15, so pretty much everyone can get involved.

All participants will receive a sustainable medal on completion of the run, as well as free entry to the zoo on the day. Top fundraisers will also have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, such as annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions and experiences, as well as bundles of other vouchers.

chester zoo charity 10k — Credit: Chester Zoo

rhinos chester zoo — Credit: Chester Zoo

All proceeds from the 2024 Run For Nature will go towards the zoo’s efforts to protect rhinos from extinction, which include developing innovative scientific techniques – which they have been pioneering for 15+ years – such as using hormone monitoring to provide crucial insights into the health of rhinos.

For instance, just a few months ago, this technology helped 21 critically endangered black rhinos (with a baby female being born at Chester Zoo back in November 2023) be returned to an area in northern Kenya where they had previously been extinct for 50 years.

Lorraine Jubb, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing back our 10k Run For Nature event… it’s a relatively flat route and an excellent opportunity to break your PB!…

“All you have to do is sign up online and we’ll send you a registration pack in the post, which includes all of the fundraising details and your numbered bib, so you can just turn up on the day and start warming up. It’s going to be a fun-filled day that the whole family can enjoy and make a real difference for wildlife.”

So, if you want to get involved and make a contribution to animal conservation this World Rhino Day, you can sign up for Chester Zoo’s 10k Run For Nature on Sunday, 22 September HERE and we’ll see you at the finish line.

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Featured Images — Chester Zoo (supplied)