Ethiopian Airlines welcomed riders supporting ‘Ride 4 Rangers’ at Manchester Airport today, Sunday 23rd August 2020.
The British amateur cyclists started their global 30,000KM bike ride in Land’s End on Saturday 15th August and will arrive
in John O’Groats on Saturday 29th August.
Stopping off at Manchester Airport on route to thank the Ethiopian Team for their support, Michael Yohannes, Director
UK & Ireland Ethiopian Airlines commented, “We are delighted to be supporting this amazing charity and welcome the
cyclists to Manchester Airport where we operate from to Addis Ababa and connecting across Africa. During these
difficult times it is a pleasure to support and work with the African Travel Industry on this incredible project (detailed
below) and we wish all the cyclists the best of luck in the UK and across the African Continent”.
Julian Carr, Airline Development Director at Manchester Airport, said: “We were thrilled to welcome Ben, Jean and Joel to
Manchester Airport as they approached the halfway mark on their lengthy journey, raising money and awareness for a
very important cause.
“In these unprecedented times, its important we do whatever we can to continue building on the crucial links between
the North and the rest of the world. We’re delighted that Ethiopian is maintaining its thrice-weekly service to Addis
Ababa, linking Manchester directly with the sub-Saharan Africa, and to that end, it’s also fantastic to see three British
cyclists helping to make a huge difference to wildlife conservation across the continent.”
Pictured:
Cyclists: Black Helmet – Joel Crossland – Africa Reps; Red Helmet – Ben Morison – Far & Wild Travel with Tim Bettney
– Traffic & Sales Manager – Ethiopian Airlines – Manchester with the TUSK Land Rover and Ethiopian Aircraft (B 787
Dreamliner) just arrived from Addis Ababa.
A TEAM OF BRITISH AMATEUR CYCLISTS START GLOBAL 30,000KM BIKE RIDE WITH LAND’S END
TO JOHN O’GROATS ADVENTURE TO PROTECT AFRICAN RANGERS & WILDLIFE
50+ African Travel professionals doing a joint bike ride Land’s End to John O’Groats
Thousands of people around the globe doing their own ‘virtual’ bike ride for Rangers
874 miles Land’s End to John O’Groats
30,000 miles cumulative distance target – equivalent of circumnavigating Africa
5,000 Wildlife rangers will be kept in the field doing vital work to protect wildlife across Africa
1,038 rangers have died in the field over the past 10 years which is one ranger losing his/her life every 3 days
Large increase in poaching as a direct result of COVID-19
US$10millon- the total Tusk aims to raise and put into the field to support African Rangers over next 6-9 months
JOIN THE RIDE – the initiative is inviting fellow wildlife and Africa lovers to join the team for part or all of LEJOG or in
your own Ride 4 Rangers
NOMINATE - Cycle 10KM, Donate £10, Nominate 3 people
Ride 4 Rangers is an initiative by the UK Africa Travel Industry in partnership with conservation charity Tusk which will
see the team ride the 874 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats and is inviting hundreds of fellow Africa Travel industry
professionals, Africa and wildlife lovers to join them on the way.
A GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Alongside the Land’s End to John O’Groats ride, 15th August also marks the start of a series of global Ride 4 Rangers
events and activities where Africa and wildlife lovers across the UK, Europe and 9 African Nations (Kenya, Tanzania,
Ethiopia, Uganda, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique) are getting involved clocking their own
miles and raising vital funds. A team in South Africa’s Kruger National Park are doing a relay walk from north to south, in
Northern Kenya another team are doing a horse ride for rangers traversing Borana conservancy into Lewa conservancy,
in Botswana they are holding a club bike ride, in Malawi they are hosting a charity run in Lilongwe, in Tanzania a team
are riding from Mount Kilimanjaro to Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, in Uganda a group are doing a 5km cycle around
Entebbe, Namibia have a socially distanced hike and in Austria they have launched a series of 10KM bike rides. The
initiative is gaining momentum daily.
THE ROUTE
The route will journey throughout the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats via traditional LEJOG routes. For the full map
visit https://ridewithgps.com/routes/33296734 and for a day by day schedule to find out when the ride is near you see
below:
GET INVOLVED VISIT www.ride4rangers.com
15 Aug – 29 Aug Join all or part of the ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats
Do your own Ride 4 Rangers at home, in a park, around your garden 5, 10, 20, 50 KM
Ride 10KM, Donate £10, Nominate 3 People
Sponsor the challenge and double your impact through match-funding
Tell your friends via social media and spread the word
#RIDE4RANGERS @RIDE4RANGERS #TOGETHERFORTUSK #FORWILDLIFERANGERS
BACKGROUND
Tourism is the key funder of conservation in Africa through park fees and a healthy wildlife population is what the
industry is built on. Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been very little money going into the
conservation system. With most holidays on hold until next year, the Africa travel industry is in dire straits and the
trickledown effect on the ground across the continent is already being felt.
Money to pay rangers in some of the world’s flagship wildlife areas in Africa is simply not there. Prized wilderness areas
such as Tanzania’s Serengeti, South Africa’s Kruger and many more are struggling to pay the salaries of the rangers that
are critical to the safety of already highly endangered wildlife. The loss of park and conservancy fees from visiting tourist
has meant that budgets have been cut dramatically. Many people have been laid off which is not only having a
devastating effect for the families of those rangers, many of whom have 8-10 dependants, but it is also already impacting
on wildlife as a result of an widespread increase in reports of poaching. The role of rangers is vital to maintain the long
term protection of these wild places. Across Africa wildlife rangers are the first line of defence against illegal poaching
and without them many species like elephant, rhino, lion, giraffe and pangolin would be at even greater risk of extinction.
Over the past 10 years 1,038 rangers have tragically lost their lives in the field, the equivalent to 1 losing their life every
three days.
“As we come out of lockdown we are starting to realise the effect of COVID-19 across the world, and no more so than in
Africa where the economic impact of the global shut down has been devastating with the tourism and conservation
sectors starved of vital revenue required to protect both wildlife and livelihoods.” Charlie Mayhew MBE – CEO of
conservation charity Tusk
The Africa Travel industry is and has always been passionate about recognising the vital role played by rangers on the
frontline working to ensure the protection of Africa’s unique natural heritage.
“The interdependence between travel and conservation in Africa has been thrown into sharp relief. I applaud every
effort being made by my fellow Africa travel professionals and supporters in helping protect the livelihoods of rangers on
the frontline who play such a vital role in ensuring the safety of Africa’s wildlife.” Chris Mears, CEO of the African Travel
and Tourism Association commented
The Ride 4 Rangers Challenge aims to raise £100,000+ as part of a wider WILDLIFE RANGER CHALLENGE* being
coordinated by Tusk and Natural State – a new initiative specifically designed to support the salaries and deployment of
African Rangers during this crisis. The initiative has been established with the support of the Scheinberg Relief Fund
which has pledged to generously match all monies raised up to $5m. This means that Ride 4 Rangers has the potential to
double its impact on the ground.
All funds raised will be distributed by Tusk across some 60+ reserves and protected areas throughout Africa. The fund
aims to raise and disburse US$10 million into the field over the next 6-9 months supporting over 5000 rangers and their
wider families. This month an initial US$2 million is being distributed.
Charlie Mayhew MBE, CEO of TUSK commented:
“We are delighted to support this inspiring challenge. It is wonderful to see the drive and energy of the UK Africa Travel
industry coming together to raise valuable funds to keep rangers on the frontline - recognising the extraordinary bravery
and commitment they demonstrate on a daily basis in the protection of our natural world. “
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Ethiopian:
Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its seventy plus years of operation, Ethiopian has
become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. Ethiopian commands the
lion’s share of the Pan-African passenger and cargo network, operating the youngest and most modern fleet to 127
international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and
environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787-8, Boeing 787-9, Boeing 777- 300ER, Boeing 777-200LR,
Boeing 777-200 Freighter, Bombardier Q-400 double cabin; with an average fleet age of five years. In fact, Ethiopian is
the first airline in Africa to own and operate these aircraft. Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan
called Vision 2025 that has seen it become the leading aviation group in Africa with Seven Strategic Business Units:
Ethiopian International Services; Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services; Ethiopian MRO Services; Ethiopian Aviation
Academy; Ethiopian Ground Services, Ethiopian Express Services and Ethiopian Airports. Ethiopian is a multi-awardwinning airline registering an average growth of 25% in the past eight years.
www.ethiopianairlines.com www.facebook.com/ethiopianairlines www.twitter.com/flyethiopian