Raising money for conservation – R160 000 and counting
The first leg of the journey takes the Blue Sky Society Trust crew from Durban to Pongola.
THIS week Morningside resident, Carla Geyser, set off on a 3000km journey to raise funds for wildlife conservation. The trip is hosted by Blue Sky Society Trust, an organisation on a mission to protect, preserve, and improve life for people, wildlife, and communities in need.
Geyser who founded Blue Sky Society Trust, said this is one of several fundraisers her organisation has hosted. The 14 day journey will see Geyser and her all-women crew head from Durban to Zululand, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and finally, Johannesburg. Along the way they will make stops to learn about various conservation projects.
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Geyser’s last expedition took place in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic hit and she is excited to be on the road again. The trip seems fitting as the society celebrates its 10th anniversary this year as well.
“I combine adventure travel with fundraising. To date, we have raised R160 000 with funds streaming in over the past few months,” she said.
The first leg of the journey takes the Blue Sky Society Trust crew from Durban to Pongola, before they take on the second leg from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg.
“Each crew member has been invited to raise funds to cover expenses and donations toward conservation projects. We have women joining us from new Zealand, Netherlands, America and Canada. The trip aims to remind people of the beauty of South Africa and the importance of conservation. There’s nothing like sitting around a campfire to reignite the fire in your soul,” said Geyser.
Among the crew is Cath Gill, who hails from New Zealand.
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“I joined one of Carla’s expeditions in 2019 and had the most amazing time. I’m a conservation educator working in New Zealand, but I was born in South Africa. Carla has given me a way to come home and follow my passion, for helping people realise the importance of conserving our amazing wildlife,” she said.
The fundraiser supports several organisations, including Wildlife ACT, African Pangolin Working Group, Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Elephants Alive, Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP), Zululand conservation Trust , Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR), and the Ground Hornbill Project. Follow the journey on the Blue Sky Society Facebook page or Instagram.
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