College of Human Sciences

Taking fundraising to extremes

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Unisa’s Dr Julie Reid, an avid ultramarathon athlete, is raising funds for the caring and rehabilitation of baby rhinos. She became involved with the Rhino Orphanage in the Limpopo Province in February 2018, shortly after she decided to enter the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM). The use of such an extreme event to benefit a worthy cause was the next logical step for her.

Known as a social justice activist, Reid will shift her focus from advocating for human injustices to raising funds for the orphanage, and, more importantly, to raising awareness of the illegal trade of rhino horn. Her goal is to run the KAEM, a seven-day, self-supported race of 250 km to raise funds for the care of baby rhinos. A self-supported race requires every participant to cover this distance on foot, through the desert, and to carry all supplies for the duration of the race.

Reid has a passion for anti-cruelty and is specifically focused on combating the brutality involved in rhino poaching for financial gain. She emphasises the fact that rhino horn is the most expensive item in the world, priced on the black market above gold, jewels or any drug, and says that when horn is removed from a living creature it serves no “logical purpose”.

In addition to the detrimental effect on South Africa’s tourism economy, the effects on local communities and eco-tourism initiatives confirm the broader negative impact of illegal rhino poaching. The care and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured baby rhinos whose mothers fell prey to illegal poaching is fundamental. Reid is of the opinion that “every baby rhino counts”.

The Rhino Orphanage was founded by Arrie van Deventer in 2012, and is a registered non-profit company that aims to release the rhinos back into the wild once they are rehabilitated. Therefore, care is taken to not overly expose the orphans to human contact.

To donate money to the rhino orphanage, visit Julie’s fundraising page.

“It doesn’t matter if you donate R500 or R20—every little bit helps!”

*By Christelle Swart

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Publish date: 2018-07-25 00:00:00.0

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