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Jithamanyu Thoppey Muralidharan is a graduate pupil at Columbia College’s Sustainability Administration Program. Jithamanyu grew up close to the rainforests in South India, the place he lived near a number of nationwide parks and wildlife sanctuaries. He used his race to lift consciousness of the plight of each African and Asian elephants. Whereas African elephant populations have declined from 4,000,000 some 50 years in the past to ~415,000 at the moment, solely ~40,000 Asian elephants stay within the wild at the moment.
Sanah Budhraja can be from India, from the state of Kerala, a spot identified for its love of elephants. She has travelled to assist assist elephant sanctuaries in India and Thailand, and we hope she’ll be part of us within the area in South Africa as her subsequent elephant-focused journey! Her pal Sabena Jain ran together with her, and stated “Saving wildlife may be very expensive to my coronary heart, particularly elephants. If I can contribute to serving to even one animal, that will be very particular”, collectively together with her aunt Roshni Jain. What a tremendous household effort for elephants.
We had one other household of elephant lovers run for us this 12 months, with Alexandra Jeronimo and her 16-year previous son Perez Jeronimo flying in to run from the Dominican Republic. Perez is the primary younger grownup to run within the NYC half for Group Elephant and did an incredible job establishing his fundraising web page and reaching out to mates for assist. As a household they listened collectively to the audio ebook When Elephants Weep in regards to the inside emotional lives of animals, and the necessity for extra compassion. Alexandra stated they “got here to have essentially the most intense affinity for elephants and their knowledge, depth, and lengthy relationship with this world. Their lives are in imminent hazard with the lack of territory and local weather collapse and we wish to do our half, nevertheless small, to assist.” Thanks to the type, elephant-loving Jeronimo household!
Conservationists joined the ranks of crew elephant this 12 months. Marcelina Martynek is a scientist engaged on her PhD on the College of Pennsylvania, learning the consequences of local weather change on coral reef ecosystems. She has a deep love of the pure world and her pastime is operating. The race meant she may mix each passions, operating to save lots of the habitat for the species she cares so strongly about.
Wendy Hapgood, co-founder of Wild Tomorrow Fund, ran once more with the crew this 12 months, collectively together with her twin sister Linda Hapgood. Wendy ran to assist the crew, her work at Wild Tomorrow, and as a particular twin second in NYC. Each sisters are animal lovers, born in Australia surrounded by wild birds and nature. “The sheer lack of nature around the globe is miserable, however as Greta Thunberg says, hope comes from motion. It’s deeply significant to take motion bodily to save lots of wildlife and wild locations, placing a lot of coaching and energy into supporting wildlife conservation alongside monetary donations. I’m so pleased with our Group Elephant!” stated Wendy.
Alix Cross flew in from Nashville to run the race together with her pal, supporting the safety of wildlife and their habitat, and Adam Hundley, based mostly in Boston as a lawyer and life-long animal lover, instructed us that Wild Tomorrow’s mission to save lots of and shield habitat actually resonated with him personally. Jessie Wallace is vegan and ran for her love of all animals, dashing plant-powered to the end line.
Congratulations and trunks-up to our 2023 United NYC Half marathon crew this 12 months. All the Wild Tomorrow crew is so grateful on your efforts, operating within the chilly, for a difficult half-marathon race devoted to defending wildlife.
We ship additional particular due to our Ambassador, Nadja Rutkowski who volunteered to {photograph} the runners this 12 months, a very demanding day photographing within the very chilly climate! Try a few of our runners in motion beneath.
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