Director of the Countryside Alliance's Fishing 4 Schools project and award-winning anglerCharles Jardine (pictured) is swapping wellies for trainers to run this year's Virgin London Marathon in aid of the charity.
Charles, who is the oldest runner on The Countryside Alliance Foundation (TCAF) team by "a few years", will run the Marathon, his second, on 26 April and is looking for sponsors.
"At the age of 62, to contemplate running a marathon is an act of clinical insanity, but Fishing 4 Schools and the Countryside Alliance Foundation are such amazing causes I could not pass up the chance," said Charles. You can sponsor Charles at https://www.justgiving.com/Charles-Jardine2/
Joining Charles on the Countryside Alliance team are:
• Amateur polo player and Cheshire hunt regular Josh Woolley, 25, of London, who works as a commercial surveyor for Knight Frank. Josh said: "I have a passion for conservation and strongly believe in protecting the countryside, its community and way of life. It's clear the Alliance plays a very important role in preserving this way of life."
Sponsor him at https://www.justgiving.com/Josh-Woolley/
• Sophie Moate, 29, who lives in London, and works as a corporate PR, with an agricultural specialism. Sophie said: "I grew up in Kent and try to spend as much time there as possible. I shoot regularly and am a member of a syndicate and beagled through school and at university. I remember the solidarity of the Countryside March in 1998. Since then the cause has become more and more important. The Countryside Alliance's work to promote liberty and livelihood for rural businesses, farmers and those of us fortunate enough to call it home is vitally important."
• Royal Agricultural University student Tori Udale, 21, of Telford Shropshire. Tori has her horse at uni and hunts and events during term time. She also enjoys shooting. Tori said: "I have had so much enjoyment from country sports and this is a good way to put my bit back into it."
Sponsor Tori at https://www.justgiving.com/Tori-Udale1/
• Holly Bourne-Arton, 20, of Ripon, North Yorks, who is studying at Edinburgh University. Holly has hunted with the Bedale all her life and enjoys stalking. She said: "I have grown up with so many of the wonderful things the Alliance does and would love an opportunity to raise some money for them."
Sponsor Holly at https://www.justgiving.com/HollyBourne-Arton/
TCAF has a simple aim – to reconnect people with the countryside, through an increased awareness of farming and food, conservation and education. http://www.countryside-alliance.org/ca/article/introducing-the-countryside-alliance-foundation. As well as the highly successful Fishing 4 Schools initiative, TCAF runs a Falconry for Schools project and Casting For Recovery, which runs fishing retreats for women experiencing and surviving from breast cancer.
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For further information, contact the Countryside Alliance head of media Charlotte Cooper on 07500 834163 or [email protected]