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In jubilant mood as Ryan (and mascot Blizzard) begin the 250km Antarctic ultra-marathon |
ANTARCTICA. Edrington Group Asia Travel Retail Managing Director Ryan Hill has set off on a 250km extreme marathon in Antarctica. As reported, Ryan is raising money for the Snow Leopard Trust – a charity that aims to safeguard the future of one of the planet’s most endangered species.
The Moodie Report is presenting regular coverage of Ryan’s extraordinary challenge via video, Blogs (from Ryan) and news coverage, together with complimentary advertising for the charity. Lightfoot Marketing Asia is also working closely with Ryan and us to maximise exposure (of the charity, not Ryan -Ed).
‘The Last Desert’ challenge starts in Ushuaia, the southernmost tip of Argentina, and is the fourth 250km ‘ultra-marathon’ in the 4 Deserts Challenge. Ryan has already completed the Gobi and Sahara desert legs of the challenge.
To learn more and to contribute towards Ryan’s fundraising goal of £25,000 (US$39,746), visit www.run4snowleopard.com
Ryan takes up the story in the guest blog below:
“Elusive, rarely seen in the same place for long, roaming a vast territory in Asia and dealing with challenges on an almost daily basis. No, I’m not talking about your average Asia Pacific travel retail executive, I’m talking about the snow leopard – one of the most beautiful animals on our planet and a true jewel in Asia’s crown. But while travel retail in this region is flourishing, the same cannot be said for the snow leopard, which is in serious danger of extinction.
Ryan updates followers as he begins on-location training in Ushuaia |
“The plight of the snow leopard came to my attention when Edrington acquired a brand called Snow Leopard vodka. We are always excited about new additions to our portfolio, but Snow Leopard – the creation of entrepreneur and philanthropist Stephen Sparrow – has one of the greatest brand stories I’ve heard about.
“After learning of the plight of the critically endangered snow leopard and the hardships facing the local communities who share their home range, Stephen wanted to do something to help. With a history in the drinks trade he decided to create a premium vodka sharing the animal’s name. The result was a handcrafted vodka made from the rare Spelt grain, with 15% of the profits going to the Snow Leopard Trust.
“While I’m now going out and telling Snow Leopard’s story to retailers around Asia, I’ve also decided to take matters into my own hands and do some direct fundraising for the Snow Leopard Trust. Anyone who knows me will be aware I have a penchant for taking the occasional 250km run when the feeling takes me. Having completed two of the four 4 Deserts Challenges (Gobi Desert, Sahara Desert), I’m running the third – The Last Desert in Antarctica – in November. I’m doing it to raise money for the Snow Leopard Trust.
“250km over seven days is a challenge at the best of times, but Antartica raises some altogether unique challenges:
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Training “selfie”: Hill training in the warmer climes of South Korea |
How do I train? The weather conditions in Singapore are a little different to Antarctica. As a result, I’ve been training inside a freezer facility in an industrial estate near Changi Airport. There’s also the slight issue of my travel schedule which means training has also taken place in Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan and Taipei over the last month alone.
How do I get there? The race starts in Ushuaia on the very Southern tip of Argentina. It’s hardly an international hub.
What’s the course I’ll be running? A very good question. It depends on the weather really, which can get very bad, very quickly. There’s no set racecourse.
“So training’s difficult, getting there is harder, and I don’t know for certain where we’ll be running, but I know it will be cold and painful! However, I’m incredibly determined to complete the run and raise as much money as possible for the Snow Leopard Trust. While the goal is to help snow leopards, the work that the trust carries out is focused on local communities in the regions where snow leopards live.
“By empowering local people – most of whom are extremely poor – through education and support for small businesses, the Snow Leopard Trust is able to protect the snow leopard from some of its biggest threats. One of the biggest dangers facing the animal is retribution killings after a leopard steals livestock from a farmer. By paying for insurance to cover a farmer’s livestock, the Trust removes the need for farmers to defend their livelihood by killing snow leopards.
“The Trust also works with local women to teach them handicrafts so that they can make hats and gloves, both for their families and for sale at local markets. In Kyrgyzstan women earn upwards of US$300 a year through these enterprises, making them incredibly valuable sources of revenue which make a huge difference to their quality of life.
“One of the great qualities of the travel retail business is how it gets behind charitable causes, and I hope you’ll be willing to dig deep and donate to this unique and noble cause. My aim is to raise £25,000 and the more I raise, the more Edrington will top this amount.
“This would make a huge difference not only to the snow leopard but also numerous poor families in the high mountains of Central Asia. You can visit www.run4snowleopard.com for more information on my run, some videos and pictures, and links to other interesting sites.
“I’d also like to say a big thank you to The Moodie Report and Lightfoot Marketing Asia for their very generous support of my fundraising campaign.”
NOTE: The Moodie Report will bring more coverage of Ryan’s Antarctic adventures soon.
