My love for the Ocean started at a young age. I remember being about 4 years old in the early 1970s and collecting wildlife cards which came with a weekly magazine. I was fascinated by the diverse range of animals, the ability of some of them to thrive miles from the surface and the fact that so many looked even stranger than the aliens from outer space dreamt up in science fiction.
I particularly loved whales and dolphins, the fact that the blue whale is the largest animal which has ever lived and how so many of the 94 species were so intelligent. One species stood out - the Baiji or Yangtze River Dolphin. It was so pretty but the picture made it look so vulnerable. I remember the moment in 2017 when for some reason, the Baiji sprung into my mind. I knew the Yangtze, like many rivers had transformed and I wondered how the Baiji had coped. I was devastated to find it hadn't and in 2006 had become the first dolphin species driven to extinction by human activity. I cried.
I had worked for a long time in the healthcare sector including in sustainability, but the Ocean just wasn't given the voice it needed so a few of use formed a group, Healthcare Ocean. After years of advocating, writing and speaking at conferences, I became aware that I wasn't always speaking to the right people, and I needed to find another way. I was therefore delighted when in 2024, my daughter Lucy introduced me to the wonders of the parkrun, and it was then I realised there was a way to reach people every Saturday morning. All I needed was something which stood out.
So, in honour of the extinct Baiji, I decided to dress as a dolphin and Run for the Ocean. I do it for two reasons. The first is so I can educate a little when people ask me 'why' and the second, is simply to make people smile. Every other breath we take, including during a parkrun, comes from the Ocean and we must never forget the Ocean whatever we are doing.
Through running as a dolphin, I raise money to fund CPDmatch, a free-to-use, not-for-profit education platform which aims to improve climate and environmental literacy. We primarily focus on educating the healthcare industry which is an essential industry in the fight against the climate and environmental emergency. Without good health, we cannot mitigate, adapt or act and the voice of healthcare is needed now more than ever. The education is however relevant to anyone interested in creating a healthier planet. We actively seek out free online courses, conferences, webinars and publications to make the education as accessible as possible.
Thank you for reading and I do hope you can donate a little to help me reach more people and create confident climate and environmental communicators who inspire others to act.