Having served in the Navy and Parachute Regiment, a local man who now runs his own gym, has recently returned from South Africa where he helped to protect wildlife from poaching.

Simon Rawlins served in Afghanistan in 2008, but settled back in the area running his own business. By chance, he happened to spot a charity, Veterans for Wildlife, asking for ex-military volunteers to help with their conservation efforts. Having always had an interest in this, Simon decided to sign up.

Shortly after Christmas, the charity asked him to spend a few weeks with a small team helping to catch poachers (mostly for rhino horn). Whilst there, he met South African ex-Royal Marine, Glen Steyn, who had walked the Orange River in South Africa to raise money for the charity. This inspired Simon to come up with a fundraising idea of his own, to ensure the charity has funds to continue on its mission to protect endangered wildlife. The charity also has programmes for injured personnel and those suffering with PTSD.

Veterans for Wildlife is an international charity which mainly helps to protect elephants and rhinos, by using ex-military to develop the skill-set and operational effectiveness of anti-poaching rangers and to help veterans who may be transitioning back in to civilian life.

The charity also encourages the management of natural resources, the conservation of vital habitat and ecosystems and engages with local communities, generating jobs and serving to combat the illegal wildlife trade in South Africa, Namibia and Cameroon.

Simon has already raised £1,121 of his target of £2,000, and leaves for his challenge next Sunday, 23rd June, which should take around nine days. He says: “I am walking the length of the River Severn from start to finish unaided, carrying all of my kit and sleeping next to the river until the trek is complete; which will hopefully be in less than 216 hours. Being from the South West of England, I was lucky that the River Severn is also the longest river in the UK, so that was the only logical choice. As I need to carry everything, my food will be dehydrated and I will purify water along the way.”

If you would like to donate to Simon’s cause, readers can do so at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/river-severn1