Dubai: A wildlife activist will be bidding to catch the eye alongside scores of elite runners at next week's Dubai Marathon by running in a full-blown rhinoceros suit.
Running for the foundation ‘Save the Rhino', South African Richard Flamand will don a special 9kg suit and tackle the classic 42.195km race alongside his ‘zoo keeper' for the day, Justin Twort.
And, as if the heavy suit wasn't enough of a challenge for the duo next Friday, this will be their first-ever attempt at a marathon.
"There are only 12 suits like this in the world and Save the Rhino lend them out to people to run in events like the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon to raise money for the foundation," said 35-year-old Dubai-based Flamand, whose father works for the WWF's Black Rhino Expansion Project in South Africa.
"I'm going to run in Dubai, while my brother Philippe will do the same a week later in Hong Kong, which will be the first time the suits have been seen in those parts of the world. We decided to run for Save the Rhino as we believe it's time that we raised awareness of the plight of the rhino everywhere but especially in these cities. We have set up a fund-raising website where people can donate something to the cause. It is very easy and the money goes direct to ‘Save the Rhino'. You can visit this at: http://www.crowdrise.com/runningforrhinos/fundraiser/prflamand."
Huge challenge
He admitted that finishing in any time under six hours would be a bonus, and also stressed that he and Twort are hoping to attract lots of support from spectators along the way on January 27. Flamand added: "I'm sure the spectators will cheer us on but it is going to be one heck of a challenge and I am just hoping the weather holds good as it can be up to five degrees hotter in the suit."
Staged under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon is expected to see over 15,000 runners take part in the marathon, a 10km race and a 3km fun run. The races start from outside The Pavilion Downtown Dubai opposite Burj Khalifa and runners can register at www.dubaimarathon.org.
