5k May Challenge for Zoos Charity

International conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London), which runs London and Whipsnade Zoos, is calling on animal lovers to take on a 5k May Run for Heroes this month, to help fund its vital conservation work, and recover from the impact of the pandemic.

Having been closed during lockdowns and reopening with much-limited capacities, ZSL missed out on £26 million of potential income during the pandemic and is now asking wild challengers to take part in the #5kMay challenge for a roar-some cause – helping ZSL to continue conservation work around the world to stop critically endangered species from going extinct.

As part of Run For Heroes’ #5kMay campaign which asks participants to Run 5k, Donate 5, Nominate 5, ZSL supporters are being asked to take on a #5kMay challenge, donate £5 and nominate five friends to take on their own #5kMay too.

If running isn’t for you, then take on the Run for Heroes #5kMay challenge with a walk, swim or skip or take some inspiration from the animal kingdom and prowl your way across 5k.

Fantastic fundraisers of all abilities can take part to help the charity carry out it’s vital work creating a world where wildlife thrives.

ZSL’s Fundraising and Engagement Director James Wren said; ‘Mental health awareness week (10-16 May) is celebrating being out in nature so join us this May and take on the #5kMay challenge whether it’s galloping like a gazelle, charging like an elephant or taking it slow and steady like a tortoise, everyone can take part, you could even reach your target walking around Whipsnade Zoo’s 600 acres, all while visiting our wildlife. We can’t wait to see how everyone shares their #5kMay triumphs with us.

‘To say the last year has been a challenge for ZSL would something of an understatement. Throughout the last year our vets, zookeepers and conservationists have been our heroes, continuing to provide the highest levels of care for our 30,000 animals and working to conserve species from conducting post-mortem investigations on stranded whales to restoring wildlife such as native oysters to the UK’s waters.

‘With our twos closed for so long we lost our core source of income, and this put our global work at risk, so we are calling on animal lovers to take on a #5kMay to ensure our Zoos stay open and we can continue to work for wildlife.’ 

Channel your inner animal and join ZSL #5kMay challenge by visiting zsl.org/5kMay to get involved.

Look out for our ‘Animal Magic’ feature in our summer issues which includes Whipsnade Zoo. Tring Living and Berkhamsted Living Magazines will be distributed w/c 31 May.