Being a wildlife ranger in South Africa can be dire. If you survive the scourge of poaching, you might work at a game reserve that is struggling financially. The chances are high that you will toil through long hours with poor equipment, low wages, and a tatty uniform with scuff ed boots. All the while, everybody is crowing about saving the rhinos.
Enter a gangly teenager named Harry Bailey. Born premature and with a chronic immune-mediated disease, Harry was sickly most of his childhood. At 13, he became dangerously ill. But what he lacked in physicality, he made up for in mental resilience and character. He bounced back in part after he took up running. Harry, who attended Hilton College then, went on a road trip with his dad, Don. Their drive from Hilton to Manguzi was in support of Hilton teacher Kwanda Sibiya, who was running the 500 km-plus journey to raise money for Sport For Lives, founded by Chris Kingsley. En route, the party spent time with pioneering conservationist Grant Fowlds.
Harry was inspired. In his matric year, he and a handful of others ran 100kms over two days through Big 5 game reserves in the first Run For Rangers event. The fundraiser is now in its third year. It has created huge awareness and raised R1,2 million for game rangers. “When my dad and I spoke about it initially, it was a way for me to give something back. I was very privileged to have the opportunity to go to Hilton College. I didn’t expect the response would be as amazing. This has taught me so much about personal conviction, grit, and determination. The run is a beautiful experience, but it brings the rangers into focus. They have the craziest job. Imagine their lives. Staying alive is a priority, let alone all the other challenges.”
