Mackenzie Knott recently conquered her mountain mission for orphaned rhinos and surpassed her fundraising target! Thanks to this 10-year-old, more young rhinos have a fighting chance.
Cape Town, South Africa (19 July, 2023)—Mackenzie Knott (10) set out to conquer a mountain mission earlier this month, and we are over the moon to report that she succeeded in abundance.
With orphaned rhinos at the heart of her trailblazing pursuit, Mackenzie, a plush rhino mascot named Hazel June and her father braved the cold to hike peak after peak. The 13 Peaks Challenge has ‘challenge’ in its name for a reason, and it’s even more demanding come the colder seasons.
But nothing could deter the mountain mission. Thanks to Mackenzie’s footprints, all-important funds for milk and other conservation costs were covered with spare change.
Mackenzie’s goal was to raise R13 000 for Rhino Connect as part of her ambassadorship with Fit 4 Rhinos, but she topped her own expectations and rallied R15 800 in total!
Orphaned baby rhinos are a cause many can empathise with. However, few actively take steps to make a difference in their conservation. Mackenzie’s mountain mission shows us all that sometimes the crux of change is simply being brave and putting one foot in front of the other even if the trail seems steep.
This is also not her first time tackling the 13 Peaks Challenge with rhino love guiding her path as she completed the same mission last year.
Meanwhile, in other good news for orphaned animals, a baby baboon named Banjo and a childless mother baboon recently became a small family! Soon, they’ll join a new troop once they’re ready to leave rehabilitation.