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 presently, solely ~40,000 Asian elephants stay within the wild at present.
Sanah Budhraja can also be from India, from the state of Kerala, a spot recognized for its love of elephants. She has travelled to assist help elephant sanctuaries in India and Thailand, and we hope she’ll be a part of us within the subject in South Africa as her subsequent elephant-focused journey! Her buddy Sabena Jain ran along with her, and stated “Saving wildlife may be very pricey to my coronary heart, particularly elephants. If I can contribute to serving to even one animal, that may be very particular”, collectively along with her aunt Roshni Jain. What a tremendous household effort for elephants.
We had one other household of elephant lovers run for us this yr, with Alexandra Jeronimo and her 16-year outdated son Perez Jeronimo flying in to run from the Dominican Republic. Perez is the primary younger grownup to run within the NYC half for Workforce Elephant and did a terrific job organising his fundraising web page and reaching out to pals for help. As a household they listened collectively to the audio guide 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 probably 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, nonetheless small, to assist.” Thanks to the type, elephant-loving Jeronimo household!
Conservationists joined the ranks of workforce elephant this yr. 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 interest is operating. The race meant she might mix each passions, operating to avoid wasting habitat for species she cares so strongly about.
Wendy Hapgood, co-founder of Wild Tomorrow Fund, ran once more with the workforce this yr, collectively along with her twin sister Linda Hapgood. Wendy ran to help the workforce, 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 take motion bodily to avoid wasting wildlife and wild locations, placing numerous coaching and energy into supporting wildlife conservation alongside monetary donations. I’m so happy with our Workforce Elephant!” stated Wendy.
Alix Cross flew in from Nashville to run the race along with her buddy, supporting the safety of wildlife and their habitat, and Adam Hundley, primarily based in Boston as a lawyer and life-long animal lover, advised us that Wild Tomorrow’s mission to avoid wasting and defend 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 workforce this yr. All the Wild Tomorrow workforce is so grateful on your efforts, operating within the chilly, for a difficult half marathon race devoted to defending wildlife.
We ship additional particular because of our Ambassador, Nadja Rutkowski who volunteered to {photograph} the runners this yr, a very demanding day photographing within the very chilly climate! Try a few of our runners in motion under.
