Elizabeth Roberts raised more than four thousand pounds for GGR and flew out to see the gorillas.Elizabeth works as a senior tax consultant in London, and says she sent out mass emails showing her wearing her gorilla suit appealing for donations from clients and contacts.

She and her husband, Stephen, flew out to Uganda to enjoy a ‘Gorilla and Chimp Safari’ worth nearly three thousand pounds, offered as a prize by Explore! for the top fundraiser.

After a two night stay at Hippo Hill campsite in the Queen Elizabeth National Park they went on to Bwindi, where they spent three nights in a permanent tented camp. They trekked for about an hour before they caught sight of their first gorilla. Elizabeth describes how “We were walking through the eucalyptus when I suddenly saw a black-back gorilla with his arm around a tree, munching leaves. He looked right at me.”

The group that Elizabeth saw is called the Mubare group. It’s made up of Ruhondeza the silverback, who Elizabeth describes as “an awesome beast”. There are also three male black-backs, and a female with a six-month old baby who travelled around on its mother’s back all the time.

The group had the usual allotted one hour viewing time. Elizabeth says “It was funny, because just as our hour came to an end, the silverback got up and went away. It was almost as though he was on a timer.”

As well as the inspiring gorilla encounter, Elizabeth was also moved by the community projects she visited, and commended the Explore! and Gorilla Organization involvement. She says “Visiting the orphanage, and driving through all the shanty towns and meeting local people made me feel more a part of the community and less of a tourist. It was good to see how the local Batwa people who lost their land are benefiting from gorilla tourism and community projects.”

The Gorilla Organization has funded a social worker to educate the community on health and hygiene issues. There has also been a successful project training Batwa farmers in modern farming techniques and constructing modern storage areas for crops. This has been increasing incomes, allowing more children to go to school.

Elizabeth and Stephen have now decided to sponsor the education of ten year old Agnes, a child they met at the orphanage.

Elizabeth says taking part in the Great Gorilla Run was a brilliant experience, and she urges this year’s runners to aim high with their fundraising. “Why stop at £400 when it’s possible to raise £4000!”

The top fundraiser for 2009 will be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to try and view gorillas in the wild. Explore! is offering a place on a gorilla trek in Rwanda next year.

Sign up for the 2009 Great Gorilla Run