Chester Zoo 10K to make return in race to save rhinos

The new event, in its second year, is set for Sunday, September 22 – an important day on the international calendar known as World Rhino Day, where conservationists right across the world raise awareness of their efforts to protect highly threatened species of rhino.

Only 2,500 spaces are up for grabs and runners will speed through the 128-acre zoo, racing past Asian elephants, Rothschild’s giraffes, camels and giant otters – all before continuing out into the wider Cheshire countryside and circling back to the finish line at the zoo.

A special one-mile 'Zoom' fun run will also take place for children between the age of four and 15 years old.

Runners of all abilities are invited to take part in the main 10K and a special one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run will also take place for children between the age of 4-15.

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, which include annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions and experiences, as well as zoo vouchers being up for grabs.

All proceeds will go towards the zoo’s efforts to protect rhinos from extinction, which include developing innovative scientific research techniques at the zoo over the last 15 years, using hormone monitoring to provide crucial insights into the health of rhinos. Just a few months ago, the technology helped 21 critically endangered black rhinos be returned to an area in northern Kenya where they had previously been extinct for 50 years.

Chester Zoo's 10K running event, Run for Nature, is returning on September 22, and will help save rhinos from extinction.

Lorraine Jubb, fundraising lead at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing back our 10K Run For Nature event and we’re inviting 2,500 fundraisers to take part and help us raise money for our incredible conservation work.

"Runners will start in the zoo and pass an array of animals, before hitting the surrounding roads in the Cheshire countryside and crossing the finishing line – it’s a relatively flat route and an excellent opportunity to break your PB!

“This year’s race is extra special as it falls on World Rhino Day – a global celebration of conservation efforts to protect these magnificent animals from extinction.

Chester Zoo's 10K running event, Run for Nature, is returning on September 22, and will help save rhinos from extinction.

"So, this year, we’re asking runners to raise money and help support our species-saving work with different rhinos - helping us to create a future where rhinos thrive.

“Registration for Run For Nature is now open. 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 get involved in and make a real difference for wildlife.”

A total of 500,000 rhinos once roamed across Europe, Asia and Africa. But global rhino numbers have dropped significantly to around just 25,000 today.

A special one-mile 'Zoom' fun run will also take place for children between the age of four and 15 years old.

Of the world’s five species of rhino, three are critically endangered and face an extremely high chance of becoming extinct in the wild – according the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s authority on the state of nature.

• To register for Chester Zoo’s Run For Nature 10K or the one mile Zoom run for children, visit www.chesterzoo.org/run .