Ellicottville Rotarian Goes the Extra MileRotary Club of Ellicottville member Dave Rothrock is hiking for a cause! Combining his passion for long-distance hiking (272 miles), climbing, and environmental conservation, he is raising funds to purchase much-needed safety equipment for the Programme for Belize Rangers who are working hard to save the endangered yellow-headed parrot. Some of the climbing equipment they are trying to send includes harnesses, helmets, ropes, rope bags, spikes, stick ladders, gloves, etc. These Rangers’ safety is at risk. They are using old, borrowed equipment. If enough funds are pledged, they also hope to purchase body cameras, boroscopes, raptor gloves, etc.
Why support this cause? Rotary International is committed to supporting activities that strengthen conservation and protect our natural resources. Habitat destruction and trapping for the pet trade have severely compromised the numbers of the double yellow-headed Amazon parrot in the wild; only a few thousand wild birds remain. They need our help.
Dave began his trek on July27th and plans to finish August 16, walking along the The Long Trail from Canada through Vermont to Massachusetts.
You can follow his journey at https://m.facebook.
For more information contact evlrotaryclub@gmail.com.
- Carol Fisher