A passionate conservationist is moving into a 16-meter high tower at Montecasino to raise money for Rhino protection!
Fourways, South Africa – From 26 April to 26 May, Gareth Putter, Director of Rocking For Rhinos and passionate wildlife conservationist, will live on top of a 16-metre scaffolding tower in a massive campaign to enlist the support of individuals worldwide in the fight against rhino poaching.
Since the inception of Rocking For Rhinos in 2012, the small yet passionate team based in Hoedspruit has hosted a variety of large-scale public events in aid of rhino conservation in South Africa, including five music festivals, one single day music event, two art exhibitions, three auctions.
The organisation was formed in January 2012 by a few extremely motivated, passionate and dedicated people, united by one fundamental issue: the now critical plight of our disappearing Rhino population and the war that must be waged against the poachers and ring leaders that are the direct cause of the demise of this gentle creature.
“We are based in Hoedspruit, a small town in the Limpopo province of South Africa, surrounded by game farms and in close proximity to the Kruger National Park.
Our mission is to do everything in our power to contribute to the fight against Rhino poaching. This includes spreading awareness, supporting the teams on the front lines, placing pressure on local authorities and educating as many people as we can to create lasting change. The primary aim is to provide the general public with a real opportunity to contribute to this necessary cause through attending the Rocking For Rhinos music festivals and annual tours. These events fuse great music and conservation to give these magnificent creatures a voice.
While our sole focus at this stage is the plight of Rhinos in South Africa, it is our vision to one day support an array of wildlife conservation projects throughout South Africa.”
It is the responsibility of each and every South African Citizen, and international, to put an end to this ongoing senseless slaughter.
Through these and other events and collaborations, R777 046.00 has been donated to various Rocking For Rhinos beneficiaries. All work is undertaken voluntarily by a team of dedicated individuals for whom nothing is ever enough when it comes to the fight against rhino poaching.
“It’s now time to try something different,” says founder of Rocking For Rhinos, Gareth Putter.
At 17:00 on Friday 26 April, Putter will ascend a 16-meter high scaffold tower at Montecasino Bird Gardens in Fourways, Johannesburg, where he will live for a full month, challenging corporate South Africa as well as individuals worldwide to take action in the fight against rhino poaching.
Rocking For Rhinos aims to raise a minimum of R3 million for rhino conservation in South Africa by challenging corporates to spend an “Hour Up The Tower” for a fee of R10 000. The general public will be able to ascend the tower to the 16-metre platform at a donation of R150 per adult and R50 for children aged between 13 and 18 years. Children aged between 6 and 12 years will be able to ascend to the four-metre platform at a donation of R20.
Rocking For Rhinos will be live-streaming the Rhino Tower ‘live-in’ to allow supporters around the world to follow the story day by day.
Mike Page, Operations Director and General Manager of Montecasino, who have provided the venue for Putter’s campaign over the coming 30 days, says, “Through the Montecasino Bird Gardens, we deliver on our passionate commitment to preserving our wildlife heritage, and helping to ensure that future generations experience all that it has to offer. The single-minded work that Rocking for Rhinos is doing connects perfectly with the work being done by Montecasino Bird Gardens, which is involved in several conservation initiatives, such as a project to safeguard the Ground Hornbill. We hope that the tower at Montecasino Bird Gardens will contribute to increased awareness of the horrors of rhino poaching and raise funds for this worthy cause, and we are proud to host Gareth Putter for his month in the tower.”
Proceeds from this activation will go towards facilitating the following beneficiaries:
Protrack Rhino Task Team, Saving The Survivors, The Black Mambas, Pit-Track, Flying 4 Rhino and Conservation Trust.
For sponsorship opportunities, please e-mail gareth@rockingforrhinos.org.za or contact Gareth on 0732377269.
For more information on the Rhino Tower, fundraising initiative click here. To donate click here.
by 