Mike Hill, co-founder of One Planet Pizza, took on the IRONMAN triathlon in Denmark to raise money for Gorilla Defenders.
Mike Hill is co-founder of One Planet Pizza, and frequently supports Viva!’s work. Last year to celebrate his 60th birthday, the pizza maker went a step beyond and tackled one of the toughest endurance events around – the IRONMAN triathlon in Denmark. This wasn’t just a personal test of strength and willpower; Mike was also on a mission to raise money for Viva! Uganda’s Gorilla Defenders campaign – and what a success it was!
After 13.5 hours, Mike crossed the finish line and raised a fantastic £1,381 to help protect endangered mountain gorillas.
The IRONMAN is famous for pushing athletes to their limits and Mike’s event in Copenhagen was no exception. It began with a 2.4-mile swim, then a tough 112-mile bike ride and ended with a 26-mile marathon – that’s over 140 miles of grit, determination and pain.
Once is enough, you’d think, but this was Mike’s third event, the last being 10 years ago when he was a mere stripling of 50.
He was determined to give it everything: “Well, I did it!” he said. “It took just over 13.5 hours and a lot of willpower, aided by date slices and oat cakes with tahini, but it’s over now. After 10 years, I’d forgotten just how bad you can feel on the run!”
So why take on such a demanding challenge? For Mike, the goal was bigger than just crossing the finish line. He’d pledged to donate £1 for every mile completed, hoping to raise awareness and funds for Viva!’s Gorilla Defenders campaign, which supports the Human & Gorilla Conflict Resolution teams (HUGO) in Uganda.
HUGO trains and supports volunteers to protect critically endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park from the threat of poaching and human-gorilla conflict, and Gorilla Defenders supplies HUGO with much-needed rainproof wear and field equipment. Find out more about how Gorilla Defenders UK supports HUGO [here].
“The gorilla numbers are so small that even one death is a great loss,” Mike said. “They are also one of the strongest mammals on Earth and they are plant-based, so they are a great advert for building muscle from plant protein!”
When he crossed the finishing line in Copenhagen, after a very long day of swimming, cycling and running, Mike knew he’d not only completed an incredible personal challenge but also made a real difference for a vital cause. And, in true One Planet Pizza style, Mike celebrated with a slice of freshly cooked pizza!
“It was an amazing experience, and I’m so pleased with the great total that we raised,” Mike said. He was keen to thank everyone who supported him along the way, from those who donated to those who cheered him on through the tough moments.
The money raised has already helped HUGO volunteers in Uganda protect gorillas, giving them the gear they need to fight and keep these amazing animals safe.
