If running a marathon isn’t tough enough, Peace Parks Foundation’s Bradley Schroder has raised the stakes and is aiming to complete a marathon on each of the seven continents while wearing a 12-kilogram rhino suit. Although this might sound slightly crazy, he is doing this for a noble cause – to raise awareness for the plight of rhinos whose numbers have been in serious decline due to extreme poaching.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Bradley spent most of his younger years in the Mother City until he moved to Pretoria for high school. After racking up an impressive repertoire of degrees, qualifications and field experience, Bradley spent the next couple of decades working at well-known game reserves across South Africa. Now, Bradley is Peace Parks’ Senior Project Manager in Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.
Having been closely linked to the world of conservation for most of his adult life, Bradley has been exposed to the effects that poaching has had on species like the rhino, and the ecosystem at large. Now, his running initiative aims to help save the iconic rhino from extinction.
Antony Alexander, Peace Parks’ Senior Project Manager in Mozambique, pays Bradley a visit to test out the suit and see what it’s all about. After giving it a quick spin, Antony realises how uncomfortable it must be to run any distance in the rhino suit, let alone several marathons. Not only is it hot and heavy, but the suit also limits one’s field of view as well arm and leg movements – crucial for maintaining balance, speed and conserving energy while running.
Despite raising funds to assist with the fight against poaching, Bradley’s main aim of this running initiative is to encourage others around the world to take up causes that they are passionate about and speaking up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.
Peace Parks Foundation is committed to supporting counter-poaching and continues to do all that they can to ensure a bright future lies ahead for the survival of this magnificent species and wishes Bradley well with his inspiring running initiative!
All funds raised through this initiative will go directly to rhino conservation through Save the Rhino International. If you would like to help contribute towards Bradley’s cause, you can donate on his JustGiving page here.
