FIRST VIRTUAL OASIS ZOORUN RAISES OVER $40,000 FOR YOUR TORONTO ZOO’S NEW OUTDOOR ORANGUTAN HABITAT
From left to right: Wyatt, Eliana, Annie, Sebastian and Zach Oasis ZooRun Participants, Photo Credit: Canada Running Series
TORONTO, ON, Friday, October 30, 2020: TORONTO, ON, Friday, October 30, 2020: Hosted virtually for the very first time, the 18th Annual Oasis ZooRun looked a bit different this year. This much-loved fundraising event took place from Tuesday, September 1st to Monday, October 12th, 2020, allowing participants the opportunity to complete their 10K, 5K Walk/Run or Cub Run in one day or over a few weeks.
“Participating in events like the Oasis ZooRun is an amazing way to support conservation as well as your mental and physical health. I know I benefited from getting outside and stretching my legs!”, says Dolf DeJong, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Zoo. “We missed having everyone at your Toronto Zoo this year, and we are so grateful to those who participated,” he added.
Runners connected with the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy and Canada Running Series (CRS) online sharing photos of their race times and routes, wild costumes and race medals – which featured Puppe, one of the Toronto Zoo’s beloved Sumatran orangutans.
Over the years, the Oasis ZooRun has raised over $500,400 to support your Toronto Zoo’s conservation and research efforts to save wildlife and wild spaces. This year 1658 participants - including Toronto Zoo Staff and Volunteers, raised over $40,000, which will directly support the Zoo’s new outdoor orangutan habitat. At three times the size of our troop’s current indoor space, the new habitat has been designed to stimulate their physical, social and intellectual needs, and enrich their daily lives. Integrated into the new orangutan habitat will also be a research station where animal behavioral scientists can study our troop. What we learn here will be shared globally to help the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan population.
“Thank you to all of the runners, especially those who chose to fundraise in support of our new outdoor orangutan habitat. They are making a difference to the lives of orangutans here and in the wild”, says Beth Gilhespy, Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy.
The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy and Canada Running Series look forward to hosting Oasis ZooRun participants at your Toronto Zoo once again!
The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy continues to encourage donations for the Zoo’s new outdoor orangutan habitat online at wildlifeconservancy.ca/habitat or over the phone at 416-392-9114.
“Participating in events like the Oasis ZooRun is an amazing way to support conservation as well as your mental and physical health. I know I benefited from getting outside and stretching my legs!”, says Dolf DeJong, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Zoo. “We missed having everyone at your Toronto Zoo this year, and we are so grateful to those who participated,” he added.
Runners connected with the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy and Canada Running Series (CRS) online sharing photos of their race times and routes, wild costumes and race medals – which featured Puppe, one of the Toronto Zoo’s beloved Sumatran orangutans.
Over the years, the Oasis ZooRun has raised over $500,400 to support your Toronto Zoo’s conservation and research efforts to save wildlife and wild spaces. This year 1658 participants - including Toronto Zoo Staff and Volunteers, raised over $40,000, which will directly support the Zoo’s new outdoor orangutan habitat. At three times the size of our troop’s current indoor space, the new habitat has been designed to stimulate their physical, social and intellectual needs, and enrich their daily lives. Integrated into the new orangutan habitat will also be a research station where animal behavioral scientists can study our troop. What we learn here will be shared globally to help the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan population.
“Thank you to all of the runners, especially those who chose to fundraise in support of our new outdoor orangutan habitat. They are making a difference to the lives of orangutans here and in the wild”, says Beth Gilhespy, Executive Director of the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy.
The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy and Canada Running Series look forward to hosting Oasis ZooRun participants at your Toronto Zoo once again!
The Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy continues to encourage donations for the Zoo’s new outdoor orangutan habitat online at wildlifeconservancy.ca/habitat or over the phone at 416-392-9114.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Beth Gilhespy
Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy Executive Director
(416) 392-5913
[email protected]
Amanda Chambers
Supervisor, Strategic Communications
[email protected]