Plymouth University’s Flying Monkeys raise £5000 for Charity Wild Futures
On Saturday 1st March, 27 students from Plymouth University Students’ Union took to the skies and jumped from 15000 feet dressed in monkey suits for Wild Futures.
The event raised a whopping £5,000 for the charity which will go a long way towards supporting its work protecting primates in the UK and abroad.
Wild Futures is the leading primate welfare charity in the UK and is celebrating its 50 years’ anniversary in 2014. The charity’s current largest project is The Monkey Sanctuary in Cornwall; a rescue and rehabilitation centre for ex-pet monkeys. Many of the monkeys that have been rescued by the charity suffer from severe physical and abnormal behavioural issues such as diabetes and self-harming, following their time kept as pets.
Wild Futures campaigns heavily to end the primate pet trade, and last month was invited to Parliament to present evidence on the trade to an EFRA Select Committee. With 48% of primates facing extinction in today’s world, Wild Futures is working hard towards the day when all monkeys are free from the threat of the pet trade, free from malnutrition, mental, physical and emotional suffering.
Hayley Dann, Head of Income Generation and PR at Wild Futures states: “The amount of support we have received from the students at PlymouthUniversity this year has been amazing. The Flying Monkey Sky Dive was a great day and the weather around the airfield held out for them as they all jumped. It was spectacular watching the 27 monkeys drop out of the sky with their parachutes behind them! It has been a great start to our 50th anniversary and we are very grateful for all the support we have received from PlymouthUniversity.”
Sarah Bowman, Student Union President of PlymouthUniversity stated: “The sky dive was an absolutely incredible experience and one that I will never forget! It was a great opportunity to raise money for an amazing charity as well as overcome my fear of flying! I’m so proud of everyone that raised money for Wild Futures and of everyone that took part in the dive!”
Richard Cook, 3rd year student, studying Animal Behaviour and Welfare said: “The Flying Monkey Sky Dive was absolutely incredible and probably the best thing I’ve ever done. Seeing the sunset from 15,000ft and falling at 120mph was amazing! So so good. Everyone should sign up!”
Wild Futures has a number of different events this year including a Wild Cycle on the 6th April. To find out more, please visit www.wildfutures.org/events or contact the Wild Futures fundraising team on [email protected] or 0844 272 1271.
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Notes to Editors:
Release Date: 7th March 2014
About Wild Futures
Wild Futures (Charity reg. No. 1102532) is an educational and environmental charity promoting the welfare and conservation of primates, and working to end the abuse of primates in captivity. Its flagship project, The Monkey Sanctuary, in Cornwall, is home to victims of the primate pet trade. The Monkey Sanctuary is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and is a founder member of EARS (European Alliance of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries). Wild Futures is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2014. Drawing on its 50 years of primate expertise, Wild Futures acts as an advisory body to sanctuaries and conservation organisations in the UK and overseas and advises DEFRA on UK animal welfare legislation.
For more information contact:
Hayley Dann, Head of Income Generation and PR
+44 (0) 844 272 1271