Date: December 2013

Chiang Mai hub

GVI Thai Elephant Project runs the Chiang Mai Marathon

This month, GVI staff and volunteers signed up to run the Chiang Mai marathon/10km in order to fundraise for
the Song Kran fund. The Song Kran fund was set up to raise money to put the mahouts through elephant first
aid training and to build a clinic in the village for the elephants in
case of an emergency. GVI staff and volunteers asked friends
and family to donate to the cause via social media.
The idea to run the Chiang Mai marathon as a fundraiser for the
project started two years ago when staff and volunteers formed a
running group called the Jungle Joggers. Initially running for fun,
the aims of the group changed when they found out there was a
marathon happening in Chiang Mai on Christmas day. One GVI
intern ran daily with the Jungle Joggers, but unfortunately left the
project before running the marathon. Upon returning as a staff
member to the GVI Thai Elephant Project two years later, she was
determined to take part in the Chiang Mai marathon. Most of the
volunteers thought the idea of running a marathon was crazy, but
after much convincing five other people, both staff and volunteers,
signed up to run the 10k.
Training for the marathon required waking up at 6am to run laps around the school field, and hill training up
and down the main road. Villagers on the way to their fields gave the runners confused stares. Explaining
they were training for a marathon did not seem to quell the puzzled looks.
In order to beat the Chiang Mai heat, the marathon began at 4am and
the 10k at 6am. Although apprehensive at first, nerves settled as the
runners approached the start line. After a grueling 42km, and 4 hours
later, the marathon was over.
For a few days after, the runners winced with every step. But sore legs
aside, the GVI volunteers and staff had a great experience. Malin a GVI
volunteer described the 10km run as difficult and painful, but very
rewarding.
In total, the six staff and volunteers were able to raise over 40,000THB
($1,240) for the Song Kran fund. The construction of the village elephant
clinic is already underway. The ground has been leveled where the clinic
will be located, and plans for the structure are in place. Construction of the clinic is set to begin in February.
For more information regarding the Thai Elephant Reintroduction programme check out the social media sitesFace book - GVI Thailand Chiang Mai

Twitter - @GVIchiangmai
Blog - http://gvithailandenvironmental.blogspot.com/
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