Championing Conservation: A Conversation with Harry Bailey.

In Episode #13, host Sid Bensalah sits down with Harry Bailey, the inspiring visionary behind 'Run for the Ranger.' At just 20 years old, Harry has faced significant medical challenges and has shown remarkable resilience and determination to make a difference in wildlife conservation.

Born nine weeks prematurely and battling numerous health issues throughout his life, Harry's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite these challenges, he founded 'Run for the Ranger,' an event that raises awareness and provides crucial support for wildlife rangers on the front lines of conservation.

In our conversation, Harry shared:

• The inspiration and motivation behind creating 'Run for the Ranger.'
• How his personal experiences, including overcoming a severe quad bike accident and dealing with a rare immune disorder, have shaped his resilience and dedication to conservation.
• Memorable stories and milestones from the event highlight the courage and commitment of the Rangers.
• The role and responsibilities of rangers in wildlife conservation and the significant challenges they face daily.
• How sports initiatives can engage youth and the community in conservation efforts.
• His vision for the future of 'Run for the Ranger' and his hopes for expanding its impact.

Harry also discusses the logistical challenges of organizing such an event, the importance of community support, and how social media has played a pivotal role in spreading the word. His story is about passion, perseverance, and a profound commitment to positively impacting the world.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of resilience and how early life challenges can shape our passions and drive.
• The multifaceted role of wildlife rangers and the critical need for supporting their efforts.
• The power of community and social media in driving conservation initiatives.
• Practical advice for athletes, sports organizations, and anyone looking to make a difference in conservation.

 This episode is a testament to the impact that one individual can have, regardless of age or circumstances, when driven by a genuine passion for change.

 ☞ If you want to support Run for Rangers and be part of a once-in-a-lifetime challenge, click here to donate:

Transcript

Sid.B: 0:07

Hey everyone. Welcome back to the Pre-zero Sports Talk Podcast. I'm your host Sid Bensalah. Today, we dive into an amazing story in the world of sports and conservation. Imagine being born nine weeks premature facing significant medical challenges growing up and still finding the resilience and passion to make a difference. This is the story of Harry Bailey. The visionary behind Run four Rangers. Harry's journey began with a life-changing conversation at Phinda Game Reserve? Where the idea for Run for Rangers was born. Despite his young age and the complexities of organizing such an event. Harry's determination has made Run four Rangers, a significant force in a wildlife conservation. His story is not just about running. It's about pushing boundaries, building communities and inspiring others to take action. Hari. It's an absolute pleasure to have you on the show. How are you doing today?

Harry: 1:07

I'm doing great things, you know, super excited to be here. My first time being on any form of podcast at all. I've done maybe one interview on the radio over phone on a landline, but this is super exciting. I'm very excited to get into this.

Sid: 1:21

Excellent. Let's start with the motivation behind the Run for Rangers. Harry, I'm sure our listeners are curious about what sparked this incredible initiative. What inspired you to create the Run for Rangers event?

Harry: 1:35

Well, so what I can put as one of my biggest motivations was back at high school during my grade 11 year, I was 17 at the time. We had one of my teachers, a science teacher, who decided to do a big challenge where he would run from my school based in KwaZulu Natalus, South Africa in the Midlands, all the way to the Basically Northern tip of South Africa to the Mozambique border in a small town he grew up in and it was an incredible journey running cycling. I mean, hundreds, almost a thousand kilometers that he did. It was truly inspiring. And my, myself and my father got to join along as a support car and just getting to be a part of that experience, I think, was one of the big motivators for me to try this because I come from a place of great, uh, Privilege in South Africa. And with that, I've always known that I need to do something with it. And I've, I grew up with always visiting nature and getting as many experiences that many people don't get. And through that, I've met many incredible accomplished rangers. And I've learned this, learned about their stories and their struggles. And I, once I put, pieced this all together, the idea just came straight to my head and I pitched it to, uh, one of my schoolmasters and it snowballed.

Sid.B: 2:43

Fantastic. Your journey has been quite remarkable. It's incredible how our experiences can shape our passions. How has your personal journey shaped your passion for wildlife conservation?

Harry: 2:55

Well, my personal journey has been getting the right exposure to nature. Be that with my family most of the time. When I was young, we used to do about maybe two to three trips every year, driving through Africa, going on these long road trips with our family friends. And I just Building those incredible memories was one of my biggest motivators because nature is truly beautiful, especially down here in South Africa. And it's one of our biggest mainstay areas for tourism as well. And knowing all of these things together, I always knew that I wanted to do something for it because nature in South Africa is at risk at the moment. And if we don't do something, there are going to be major repercussions. And I knew with who I am and what I can do that if, if I don't do something that I'm just wasting the potential for it.

Sid.B: 3:38

And Harry, you were born nine weeks prematurely and faced numerous challenges growing up. How did this early experiences shape your resilience and perspective on life?

Harry: 3:50

Well, I mean, so when you, I was born now, he's premature with very, with many complications. Most of them, I can't even remember the names of or know how to list. You'd have to ask my mother. She's on my case every day, but I'm taking my medication every morning, but it definitely helped with my resilience because I had to face a lot that many people wouldn't wish for someone at that age to face at age. 12. I had a massive accident riding a quad bike with friends. I had my lower Glo, lower lip D gloved, and my but underneath my chin entirely opened. It took 60 stitches to sew the holes together and a bit of plastic surgery. And then by then, by next year, I was already still having a bit of PTSD from that. And I fell very ill with. Uh, an illness that is hard to name and that we don't know enough about. So, I mean, to this day, I'm still battling with immune system issues. That is my biggest thing. It's an issue called immunoglobulomania. Very wordy thing. But it's where my white blood cells cannot retain memory. So every time I'm fighting a virus, it's as if it's for the first time. So there's been so many medical complications over the years that it's just been a constant battle for me and my health trying to keep myself just at a constant state of, you know, where I'm, I take about two, three pills every morning. And the whole idea is, you know, to eventually one day get me off of them. But at this point, we don't know, because I am still quite unpredictable to that and just anything could set me off. So it's. It's been a challenge for me my whole life and I've been fighting it as much as I can, but, and there's only so much I can do and we're still looking, you know, what the solution is.

Sid.B: 5:26

Yeah. You mentioned that after spending a long periods in the hospital during junior school, You decided to go to boarding school. How did this decision impact you? And what was your experience like at Hilton college?

Harry: 5:41

So, well, the main reason I wanted to go to boarding school, because I wanted a fresh start, you know, you go to your junior school, you make all your friends there. But I, I, I got tired of the place. There were people, you know, some people I didn't get along with, some people I did. And I just wanted a chance to maybe reinvent myself, per se. And Hilton is a very prestigious boarding school in South Africa. It's one of the oldest ones there. Turned 150 in my final year there. My family has history there. My great grandfather went to the school here. Arrived at the school on an ox wagon and paid his school fees with the ox. And boarding school, it was a big choice. I, I do love my family. I love being at home, obviously. But I think it was a great choice for me because it allowed me to, you know, grow as my own person. Especially without that, you know, Big safety net that is my parents and I love them for that, but it was, it was great for me because it was a big step in my life. I, I struggled immensely at first with the social challenges that come with, you know, living with other guys at your age. I mean, we were stuffed into a room, 16 of us didn't know anything about each other and we were just told to get along. So it definitely helped my social skills a lot. I mean, I used to stutter a lot. I still do. To be fair, I had no confidence whatsoever, but now it's allowed me to become a very social person, try host an event, for example. So boarding school did wonders for me. It was obviously with its own challenges. But Hilton is a place of its own. There's no other place like it. It's truly an experience that no one can, no one can really understand until they've been through it. And that's why there's also such a tight knit community of all the people who went to the school. We call it the old boys, the old Hiltonians. It's a tight knit community that still thrives to this day. Uh, I'm still in contact with everyone, with all of the guys I went to school with. And there's always these old meetups of the committees happening. So. Boarding school was just such a big stepping stone for me in building myself personally.

Sid.B: 7:30

Based on your bio. I read that the idea for run for Rangers came after the conversation at Phinda Game Reserve Can you tell us more about that moment and how it's rent and your commitment to this cause?

Harry: 7:44

Yeah, so when discussions were happening, I had a loose idea in my head that I wanted to try to do something for charity and in South Africa, you know, like I've said, I have the privilege and I can never stop pushing that because it is such a big thing that I have this, this privilege to be able to do these things. And that's why I thought to myself after seeing my teacher do the science teacher do this, I thought there's got to be something I can do. And then it was when we were in a game reserve, the, the idea came to me sitting in nature, one of the places that I've been so engrossed in my whole life, it just suddenly clicked to me that I've got to do something for here. And from, and from there I just started pushing the idea, okay, where can we do this? How can we do this? Who can we get involved? And, uh, that was one of the, that was the moment that really sealed it for me that this is what I want to do.

Sid.B: 8:32

Wonderful events like run for Rangers, have exceptional moments. Can you share any memorable stories or milestones from the event?

Harry: 8:42

Well, one of the best stories I can give is of day two on the event. So we do the event over two days, a hundred kilometers through this big five reserve. In the first year, we were in a different reserve from where we are based now. That was called Thunder Game Reserve. You know, they took us, uh, uh, they took us on, you know, as a bit of a wild crew. But I remember on that second day, waking up in the morning after I've just done 50 kilometers, which is far more than I've ever done in my life. I was 18 at the time. Waking up like a, feeling like I just busted out of a coffin. And having my dad sleeping in the same tent as me, he comes in, he has to pull me out of bed to get up. And I mean, everything was in pain. I could barely move from the pain. And hitting those first, that first kilometre, I remember I almost collapsed while running. I had to stop, do as much stretches or anything that I could. Uh, I mean, to me that was, that was very inherent of what that event was about. It was about pushing my boundaries the first year about finding what, how far I can go for a cause I believe in.

Sid.B: 9:39

Yeah. I understand. The format is a hundred K correct.

Harry: 9:42

Yes.

Sid.B: 9:43

So running a hundred kilometers over two days is a significant feat and a challenge in itself. Especially for someone who isn't a nature runner, what kept you going during the most challenging moments for that around.

Harry: 9:58

For me, it was the motivation of the goal as a whole, you know, to, to push this event and push the profile of Rangers. But I mean, during the run, my, there were times where you could ask people, my mind went blank, I turned into a zombie just moving forward where. I just kept walking, kept running, my feet didn't stop moving. No matter how much pain I was in, I just became a zombie on that second day towards the end of the first as well. But it was that motivation on the run. I had my crew with me. We had uh, Sport for lives the organization who really helped me get this event off the ground Project Rhino who are super huge in conservation who my family have some good ties with who were also there to support me and the rangers. I was running with on that day as well They were just supreme motivation to have those people surrounding you. It's Words can't describe how much it helped. I know if I'd been out there by myself, no one around me, I probably would have never been able to do it.

Sid.B: 10:52

Terrific. The role of Rangers in wildlife conservation is truly fascinating and often underappreciated. What are the primary responsibilities for the Rangers and how do they contribute to wildlife conservation daily?

Harry: 11:08

Well, with rangers, we do often see them as purely wildlife, but as a ranger, the role is very multifaceted. One story that I can give here is of a ranger we've met whose whole thing was to study grass. Most, a lot of rangers come in as botanists who come in to study local wildlife, but mostly the plants and the vegetation. This guy, he would, he would go around the reserve looking at all the different types of grass in the area, monitoring. Okay, this grass is spread here. I don't want it to go here and invade this other species. And it's all about creating that perfect ecosystem and harmony out there. But then also, of course, you have your wildlife rangers who are monitoring the animals. Watching after poachers, obviously, is one of their biggest jobs that it has become now. But watching the behaviors of the animals, watching if there's any diseases spreading through herds. Monitoring, okay, are the lions hunting too much in this area? Is there too much grazing over here? Trying to monitor that and hopefully just keep control of it in a contained environment to make sure that these animals are getting the best environment possible to thrive.

Sid.B: 12:10

Yeah. Uh, you imagined the daily routine of a ranger is far from ordinary. Hurry, can you describe what a typical day in the life of a ranger looks like?

Harry: 12:21

So, with, like I've said, with rangers being a multifaceted job, but, for example, most rangers, a lot of rangers now are having to work in secrecy, so a lot of them are going on deployments where they'll go into the bush and disappear for weeks. There's stories of these guys where they'll disappear for about a month, going around fixing the fences of the game reserves. But they'll be dropped in at one point and then they're off in there on their own walking around walking into lions elephants and rhinos on foot using all their natural skills and talents to help them survive out there on their own and complete the task and then you know extract out on a certain date at a certain time in a certain area like they're some special operatives for the military. So the daily life for a ranger can vary depending on the job that has to get done. But But no matter what, it's always high, high stress and high risk when it comes to being a ranger. Cause there are dangers when it comes to working with animals and how sometimes unpredictable they can get. And now with the whole idea of poaching and how prevalent it has become in the country, the ranger's job has just become much harder every day.

Sid.B: 13:25

Yeah, facing dangers daily must take a toll. I'm curious how they handle it. How do they cope with the dangers and stress associated with their role, especially in areas with high poaching activity.

Harry: 13:41

Well, when it comes to them for, for that, I can't say much myself as I, I am, I am not a ranger, you I've, I've been the guy who sat in the vehicle watching the guys out there. But from, from what I know is that there isn't a very good support system for these guys. And that is why we are trying to push for them because these guys are very underpaid. They are, there's not a lot of respect for them out on the job and they're not getting the recognition they deserve. And I mean, you'll go to reserve, you'll see a guy whose shoes are bare. practically torn open. He's basically walking around barefoot through his reserve. He's got a rifle that's jammed that he can't fix because he hasn't been given a new one. So the rangers are working a tough job and there isn't a lot of support for them.

Sid.B: 14:20

Okay. Um, you have formed strong bonds with Rangers, like Siya, Vusi, and Ntombi, how have these relationships impacted you personally and professionally Hari?

Harry: 14:34

It's been wonderful because you, you get, I've been able to meet people from every walk of life. I come from my sphere, they come from theirs, but to be able to talk to them, talk about our lives, talk about how things vary from our different perspectives has been incredible. Super incredible to me. I've got just hearing some of their personal stories has been wonderful I know Siya, he ran his own little soccer team in the in the village nearby And Tombier worked in the reserve generally as as cleaning staff But joined us on the run as she was she in the area. She holds all the records for the marathons there So all of these people, you know surface level you don't you don't think there's everyone has depth to them and it's been so incredible to get to know them and just hear about their stories on their side of life and their side of the world Fence per se

Sid.B: 15:19

Splendid. Engaging athletes in conservation efforts is a unique and powerful approach. Why do you believe involving sports figure in conservation is essential.

Harry: 15:30

You don't even have to be an athlete to get involved and that's why that's why it worked so well for me because I was never an athlete per se but with my all my illnesses and Health complications. I I always struggled to keep up in sports. There were some sports I did better in but I could but I was never You know pushing for that first team level because I sadly wasn't able to keep up. So the whole idea was to use me as, as the face because I, cause then I can say I did it. So can you. So the whole idea was to push that anyone can get involved in conservation. Anyone can make that small difference that we need. And that's why, that's what makes the event so powerful is that we've opened it to the public, not just to pure athletes. but opening it to the public has been powerful because it's, it's showed people that they can do something incredible. And I've seen other people from, from seeing our event or being involved, have gone on to do their own things, be getting involved in conservation. And that's, what's so powerful about this type of event is that anyone can do it and anyone can get involved.

Sid.B: 16:29

Yeah, brilliant. Uh, participants are not leads, have such a broad reach and influence how can sports leaders use their influence to create a positive environment impact?

Harry: 16:42

Well, for us, it's, it's always been about spreading the word, at least for me, if you, if someone, let's say, can't donate to my cause, if they tell two of their friends, maybe one does, that's great because word of ear nowadays is incredible. Social media has enabled this event to become what it has. Our biggest support has come from social media. People hearing our story just by opening the phone one random Saturday has been one of our greatest ways to push. Uh, we, we've been pushing all of our campaigns through Sports for Lives and their website. And then we, you know, we've been making our own advertisements on Instagram, myself sitting behind a laptop, trying to make something work. But word of ear has changed this event and, you know, getting sponsors involved as well has allowed this event to really up its profile and is and what it stands for.

Sid.B: 17:27

First rate. sports events have a remarkable platform to raise awareness. Do you have a good interactions on all social platforms?

Harry: 17:39

Uh, yeah, so we are primarily based on Instagram right because that's where we, that's where we started. We only actually made our own social media account last year. The first year we relied purely on the socials of the organizations working with us, but now we're trying to almost establish ourselves as our own brand to help really create, help really elevate ourselves. And, you know, Instagram, it's, it's hit or miss, you can boost your posts. You can post one day, no one will see it. The next day you post some random photo and everyone, you know, saying, Oh, I saw that on my feed. So social media, it's, it has been hit and run for us. And we're trying to expand ourselves to other platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, but we're, starting slow and we're building as much as we can.

Sid.B: 18:24

Exceptional. I'm sure there have been some hurdles along the way. What challenges have you faced while bringing participants into conservation and how have you overcome them?

Harry: 18:38

So sometimes our biggest challenge is getting people to get on board because they're scared of the distance. And fair enough, a hundred kilometers is, is, is a big number and especially over two days running through a tough environment. It is hard for people to really grasp and it is a scary figure. I mean, me thinking about it the first year I ran before I did it, words can't describe the ideas rushing through my head as I was thinking about what's going to happen to me after this. So it's that apprehension that people have to get involved in this. They want to support it. They want to do the right thing. And, but it's just, it's too scary for some people to get on board. And so our biggest thing has been trying to nurture people, try to get them feeling safe about it. Feeling excited for it is our biggest push. And. It's just keeping that interaction alive because I mean, we, our biggest thing is fundraising and our individuals who joined the event doing their own individual fundraising and we set them a goal. So this year we've set the goal at 40, 000 Rand and that also is, that's, that's a, that's a big number for somebody who's never done any form of fundraising before. And so our biggest thing is coaching them through that. And that has been tough. You know, some people are struggling more than others and how do we support them to get to, you know, rally their, their own community to invest in them. So our, our biggest challenges has come from getting people on board.

Sid.B: 19:57

How does your event Run for Rangers involve and impact the local community?

Harry: 20:04

So when it comes to the local community, many, the, the gamers that we run in Baba Nanga is actually partly owned by the community of the, of the Baba Nanga Valley And so this event is also helping to raise their profile and a lot of, and Baba Nanga work with, with the people there very, very well. A lot of their revenue does also go back towards supporting that community in hopes of keeping good relations. So through this event, we're also bringing traffic there to help that community. And by helping wildlife in this country is one of this country's biggest incomes is tourism. It's, South Africa is a beautiful place. It's got beautiful things. But one of our biggest attractions is animals. And without them, that's our country takes an even bigger hit than it already is. So in doing this, it's, it's almost a knock on effect that is helping these communities and almost all these rangers are from these communities. So by supporting them, we're helping to support their families as So the community is getting lots of benefits from run for rangers. That obviously our direct focus is the rangers who are working the job, but knowing that we are also helping these communities is just another big benefit of this event.

Sid.B: 21:11

Yeah. And how are you? Is this year, the third edition or the fourth?

Harry: 21:17

It is the third edition.

Sid.B: 21:19

Now you mentioned earlier that you are just 20 years old and don't have the skills or experience to design and organize a sporting event. So, can you walk me through, how on earth you manage the entire process, from before, during and after the event.

Harry: 21:39

Okay, that, that is, that is a long process. So when I, when I mentioned, you know, my age and all that is, it is because I came into this with no experience of this type of comes to organizing events and sorting everything out. I mean, you can ask my dad or my mother, I can barely find where my socks are in the morning. But so with Run for Rangers, it all starts with obviously our communication with the, with the reserve and setting things up. So one of our first tasks was actually going to the reserve and mapping the routes. So we took all of our criticisms from the year before and all the complications that arose happening in the event and tried to plan a much more um, Uh, well thought out route where we have all of our stops planned. We have every location, you know, trying to show off as much of the reserve as possible as we go along. And once that's been set in stone, then, and then comes, you know, obviously logistics, the, my favorite part of the event, but that comes to, you know, setting up the accommodation with the reserve, making sure like we getting our pricing right for the, for the guests coming in, making sure we actually sort out, okay, who's bringing a partner who can stay in this room, who can stay there. Because in Baba Nanga, there's multiple lodges that they have. And we have to use the multiple lodges to store everyone. So that comes with transporting them between the places saying, we're going to have dinner here tonight. So you guys need to come here. And then you both send these guys back that way to go like shower after the run. So the logistics can become a bit of a nightmare and the amount of spreadsheets that we have running of costs, how, how the runners are doing, who, what, what our sponsors are promising and how we're going to use that effectively. Has been a big challenge for me to get invested in, but luckily I do have a management team supporting me being with my dad, people at all the organization, the Sport for Lives and Project Rhino and Baba Nango, giving us incredible comms and also working with their general manager, Moussa, who, uh, works with all the rangers, they're making sure that they, they know what's happening and that they can help keep us also safe during the run, because the rangers are a big part of the event because it's. Yeah. They are helping to lead us through the reserve because no one knows that place better than And they're also going there to keep us safe. So if we do encounter animals, they are the first people out there telling us what to do. They'll tell us get on the vehicle or this one's safe. Just keep your distance. So It's Logistics 101, you know, herding cats, as my dad likes say. You know, you've got people who come to this event, they have their idea of what it is and what they want to do. But sometimes you do have to shut down this idea this year. Tell this person to get in the vehicle because they're not keeping up sometimes. And that, that is one of the hardest parts of it is controlling all these different 20 people no, not one single person is going to be having the same thought on that event because everyone wants to go that way, wants to go saw that thing, oh, can we stop and look at this? And it's all about, you know, trying to keep a cohesive flow throughout the day so we don't run out of time so that we don't have any accidents or any medical issues.

Sid.B: 24:27

Good. Can you explain to the listeners, the event format itself. including the rules and regulations, the briefing instructions and what participants can expect?

Harry: 24:40

So in regards to the event, as you know, it is a two day event, but we host the event. We start hosting the event the day before and the day after and within the reserve. So guests arrive the day before to come get settled. So we can do all of our safety briefings with the people at the reserve. They have their own regulations that they do need to uphold. So we allow them that space to make sure that everyone understands what's happening So people will arrive that first day. First night, we have a briefing, and good introduction, uh, of the organizations we work with and who we are. I give a little, you know, rousing speech. And, um, then everyone heads back to their lodges that night and wakes up five the next morning, drives to the start point about an hour from some of the lodges. There's a big reserve, you know, a lot of mountains to climb. And we start, uh, we started around six, six 30. Sometimes we pushed seven, I believe. And from there, the day starts, we start running. We, so on the back of the, we have the way the format works. So we have one truck at the front, one truck at the back, the car in the front is doing all of our navigation for us. We are following them purely. And the car at the back has our medics and, uh, is basically our slow car. If you are a bit, if you are tired, if you are a bit too slow, you can hop on the vehicle, hop back onto the ground late and get involved. And also on our front car, we have a surplus of water and snacks for our runners as we go along, we do a lot of impromptu water breaks as we go Because it is hot conditions. This is, this is Zululand Africa. It's hot and It's not easy to escape the heat, even if you're on the shade and we don't spend a lot of time in the shade. So we go through a lot of sunscreen. And then obviously we, and then we have two more cars roaming around, setting up our lunch stops, checking ahead for animals. And just making sure that everything is running smoothly. If we need, if we forgot something and they can run ahead, run back and grab everything that we need. And then from there, we have a lunch break at around halfway. Where we try to find a very scenic spot. I know this coming year, we're going to be stopping at one of the lodges we don't use to try to show that off at least. And then, uh, that's on the first day. Then second day, we stop in one of the back areas of the reserve and their newer plantation areas that they're setting up for the animals. So we can show them the progress progression of what, of how a game reserve is created. So throughout the, throughout the event, It is about getting the distance and getting it done, but it's also about showcasing the beautiful place that they're in and what, and what the, how hard the Rangers have worked to make this beautiful place so beautiful. And then we finished the day 50 kilometers at one of the lodges. And then, and then we'll have everyone shower, get ready. Then we'll all meet up for dinner. And from there, you know, another speech, big, big congrats. We get the medics to go, go check on everyone. We have our physio to help anyone who's feeling a bit sore and in the wrong place. And with the, and with Baba Nanga, they have very impressive lodges. I mean, five star can't even hold up to the standard that they're pushing. They have mastered hospitality. Once when you're there, the food that they serve is out of this world. I mean, I, I, I've come from home cooking. I cook my own university. I'm not used to a fancy meal. And they put this thing in front of me with food I've never seen So it was a great showcase on that front as well. You know, keeping everyone very well fed, make sure we have the right nutrition for them. And one of the funny parts actually was for our lunch stop they were asking, okay So what kind of platters do you want to get sorted? What kind of foods do you want? We said give us peanut butter sandwiches You know, don't need anything fancy. These are runners They're not going to be thinking about any special food, but I mean they still they still showed up brought these massive platters of wraps sandwiches bowl of bananas, you know, it was Incredible. They were so on the ball and they were just so Friendly, I mean When it came to hospitality, uh, each lodge has their own host, uh, the main, the main manager hosts the night and gets to tell all the stories of the lodge, helps introduce all the staff there. And everyone there has such character and it's just, it's just service with a smile and words can't describe the difference that makes for all these runners. Because you've just, you, 50 kilometers and there's someone who comes and they care for you, they pamper you, you know, they can I refill your glass? Can I get you more to eat? You don't even have to. Lift the finger, they are there for you. So that's been one of our greatest assets for The Run, having these incredible people who support us the whole way through. But then when it comes, then on along the plan, the second day wake up is a bit challenging because We have, we have to go knock on all the doors because a lot of people don't wake up and they don't want to wake up. So getting everyone moving is one of our biggest challenges in the morning because we finished late. And by that time it's almost pitch dark over there. And then, and then we wake up in the morning and it's still pitch dark. So one joke has, we didn't even get to see the rooms we slept in because you walked in, it was pitch dark and you just collapsed on And then you woke up and got dragged all the way back to the start line again. But then second day was same procedure as well. And you know, hopefully things run smoothly. And last year they went really well, obviously with our own hiccups here and there, someone left something behind. Oh, we took a wrong turn, but, uh, but that's the thing. A lot of people didn't notice any of the hiccups cause we were able to cover it up because the team was just so on the ball, radios blaring, we had drones in the watching where everyone was getting obviously great shots as well. And, uh, that second day, same as first, but then our big grand finale is the ending. We go to the, the boma of their main lodge, which is a big open area, bry pit in the middle where they prepare. Uh, feast for us. I remember it was just an absolute buffet of, of foods that were, it was incredible because nothing tastes better after you've completed a hundred kilometers. And we had, we had to have the bar set up. We have all the food being sorted. And then that night we have actually our own award ceremony where we give people a certificate to say, thank you for participating in our event. And to those who actually completed the full, We have a little trophy that we give them actually made by the community out of beads and wiring. So it's very special because you get your own little piece of the adventure you were just a part of. And we also have our own nominated awards. Um, it's made out, it's a award, a metal rod with a piece of elephant dung attached to. It's all joke awards. Uh, excuse my language, but last year we gave my father the Shitstora Award. know, it's, it's all about, it's all about, it's all about being funny a good laugh everyone can look back and think, Oh, that was, that was such a funny moment. This person kept me going. So it's a, it's a good chance for everyone to reflect on what they've actually really just accomplished. And from then on the next day, people are free to leave late in the afternoon. Otherwise, that next morning we'll plan maybe a special event if we can within the reserve, be that an interaction with an animal, going to a boma where lions kept. So it's trying to give them that last experience that they can take home with them on that nice long drive home.

Sid.B: 31:22

Yeah, fun. Bostic, what you explained, how he goes beyond just an event. There is the social aspect, the networking, the discovery itself, and the hospitality, which are all important. As someone who has been involved in organizing many events, I can tell you that you quickly forget the start and the finish. But you will never forget the fun side, the party and the social aspect. It stays with you forever. Harry, the event is growing each year. What are your hopes for the future and how do you plan to keep pushing yourself and others?

Harry: 31:58

Well, my plan for the future is that just that this event can stick around and get recognized by some big sponsor who wants to sweep it off its feet, you know? Because at the end of the day, I also, I'm studying at the moment, you know, I'm still trying to get a degree, trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my life. And everyone involved in this as well is part time, my dad, who helps with the he's running his own business and his own other charity on top of this. Uh, the, the, the, our sponsors also running their own business. This is a side event for them as well. So the, the, the biggest goal for me would be that we can have. A group who come in and make, take the event full time for us and just keep it alive. Obviously within the vision for the event, obviously we would try to correlate towards that. But for me, it's, you know, that one day I can look back and see the event is still going and know that I could go back one day and see how it's doing and see that it's thriving because it is a wonderful cause. And just seeing that hope for it each year to come back and do better each time, I think is powerful because. It's a bastion for the idea of protecting rangers because many people see them as these self sufficient warriors out in the bush, which they are, but they do still need support. So this almost serves as a reminder every year that there is something being done and that you can do something too. And that, and for me, the dream of leaving it to be automated by itself where I don't have to be involved anymore. Obviously, I want to stay involved for as long as I can. This, this, this event is everything that I cherish right now. It's one of the greatest things I've done in my life so far. And I hope to keep it around for as long as I can.

Sid.B: 33:35

Yeah. From the media standpoint is the local media in South Africa. And involved in your event, is it covered by the local TV, print, digital outlets, and so on to promote it within the area of the region and internationally beside the social platforms.

Harry: 33:52

So, for us in South Africa, we don't get much coverage, to be fair. There's always some new breaking news story down here on the news. So, we haven't had much coverage on that front. We've had a couple, you know, newspapers and magazines who've come along and got involved. We've sent, um, We've sent our own basically documentary that we had filmed to some news stations in South Africa. We've, we've been on the radio a couple of times, been in a lot of newspapers, which has been great. But there's definitely more to be desired from that. And we are pushing for that at the moment and internationally wise right now, it is still just. Or word of mouth, you know people you see scatterings on social media But we are getting in contact with people out there who can go be our spokespersons internationally getting in contact with travel agents who can Maybe create a package for some people who want to who want to come down here But still want to get that taste of africa so they can come to the event But then also go do something else and create a just a cohesive package for them as well So internationally we are still working hard at that. Uh, we haven't, we, we've got some interest here and there, but you know, it's very loose, very up in the air. So we are still very much pushing that. But we get, we're getting more and more local interest each year. So the event is, the event is growing steadily and we're gonna keep pushing to get that international interest, but also make sure that locally we are strong.

Sid.B: 35:09

How can sports initiatives like yours, better engage you in conservation education?

Harry: 35:17

So with, with the youth getting involved in sports is great in South Africa, we have at schools and all, all forms of sport is mandatory, mandatory. And everyone plays a bit of rugby. Everyone plays a bit of hockey, a bit of cricket. Now everyone's playing basketball. What a polo. So in South Africa, sport is such a big thing here that it's a very good medium to get someone involved in something. Yeah. I mean, a lot of, we have a lot we had in our first year, we had a rugby player joining us. Yeah. Uh, then last year we were meant to have a couple of athletes join us, but sadly they couldn't. But for the youth, it's very powerful because it enables them to use something that they already used to being, being sport, uh, to get involved in something much bigger than they ever thought they could be a part of. And when it comes to the conservation education, you know, getting just getting out there that that experience is it changes your perspective And with the right people you can be the the education is so expensive and it is very interesting. So One story I can give is last year we've had, with my old school Hilton, we've been bringing boys from the school. We had 2, 2 15 year olds and two 17 year olds who joined us and actually got to join the event and experience it. And from what I've heard from them, it was eyeopening for them. We've had interest from them saying they want to come back and, and do it, do the full distance this time. And so it, it just proved to me that. Using sport as a medium is a great way to help get our youth involved in conservation because right now it is the youth in South Africa that have to make the difference because isn't doing enough for conservation and the youth being our future, you know, there is a big paradigm shift happening in South Africa with very, it's very political at the moment, but right now the youth, we have to start stepping up because it's now or never, because if we don't do something now, we won't have something later.

Sid.B: 37:06

Yeah. You want event has a really powerful purpose. And it is all about impact. Uh, Harry, how do you plan to expand the reach and impact? Of your work in conservation, which is not easy task.

Harry: 37:22

So for us, it's become, it's become, it's come from our collaboration with Project Rhino, uh, the, the conservation organization. It started as a group trying to protect the rhino, but it's evolved beyond that. They have their hands in every reserve across the entire country. So with them, we've been, you know, using our funds to help Use them to spread those funds in the right places. And it's all about finding the most effective way for us to give back. We are still learning. We are still trying to figure out what we can do better and what's the best way to support the Rangers. So every, every year, as we raise more, we're able to do more and try more. So from that. We can hopefully expand our reach to all forms of conservation down here. And then who knows if the event does grow and start to bring in that more attention and more funds raised, we can expand our horizons even further. But as of right now, we have to, we have to keep our heads down here in South Africa, that's where our biggest concerns are. And, you know, it's, it's my home and to me, it does come first. I want to protect this place, but if I can do something for. The world, you know, thinking huge if my event could help the world all over with conservation That would be a dream come true. And if we can we will but right now We are still learning and we're still trying so south africa is where we are at the moment

Sid.B: 38:39

Yeah. The sports industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Valued at almost 600 billion US dollar with 120 million active participants. What advice would you offer athletes, sports organizations and teams looking to make a difference in the wildlife conservation?

Harry: 39:02

The best the best thing I can say is get out there first of all go experience go see it go get go Build that understanding of what, what nature is, what conservation is and what wildlife is and what needs to be done for conservation to be effective. Only then can you make a difference. And for me, I'm lucky enough. I was educated on it from a young age and I'm still learning so And there's still so much to be learned. But the best thing you can do is just get out there, try something. If it doesn't work, try something else. You know, it's the classic throw something at the wall and if it sticks, keep going. And that, I mean, that, that was run for ranges. It evolved from a couple of different ideas. We were like, okay, no, that one won't work. So we'll try, let's try this reserve, try this route, go for this much, you know? So it's all about reaching out, obviously, you know, reaching out to the right people, find those people, other people who are interested as well, and build your own community about. conservation and then from there just get out there and give it, give it a hack. Keep trying and keep pushing as much as you can.

Sid.B: 40:04

Great. Now it's time for our lightning round.

Harry: 40:07

Oh.

Sid.B: 40:08

Are you ready for a speedy Q&A?.

Harry: 40:11

I'll try my best.

Sid.B: 40:12

Excellent. Let's start. What's your favorite way to stay active?

Harry: 40:17

Uh, that, that's running and going to the gym with my friends.

Sid.B: 40:21

Who is your biggest inspiration throughout your journey with the Run for Rangers?

Harry: 40:27

That would have to be my, my father. He's been a huge inspiration for me my whole life when it comes to pushing my boundaries and getting invested in conservation and all these right things.

Sid.B: 40:37

And how about your mom?

Harry: 40:39

Well, my mother, my mother as well, uh, uh, my dad obviously has his own charity based in conservation. My mother supports that entirely as well with her, with her, um, with her company as well. So my mother has also been a huge inspiration and she's been my rock through most of it, my emotional rock. Uh, on that, on that second day of the run, uh, she, I think she, she had more tears than I did.

Sid.B: 40:59

Yeah. Yeah. And we need that. Uh, Harry.

Harry: 41:02

Exactly, exactly.

Sid.B: 41:04

Yeah. Yeah. As a founder, an instigator. What aspect of run four Rangers mission resonate with you the most.

Harry: 41:14

Uh, the, the socialization, uh, the, the, the narrative of having a conversation about these topics is my, what I think are the most powerful point is that we actually get a, the, the right environment to talk about these things and talk about how we can fix it as, as a community.

Sid.B: 41:32

Which leader past or present do you admire the most?

Harry: 41:37

Of, are you saying leader of the event or just a

harry-bailey--he-him-_1_05-21-2024_131722: 41:40

general leader?

Sid.B: 41:42

Any any leader could be a political leader, could be a figure, could be spiritual leader.

Harry: 41:48

Yeah, I told you I'll try my best, but I'm not, I'm not too good. These leader wise, I mean, the best I can look at is, Ooh, you, you, you hit me with a hard question Cause there's been so many inspirations to me. I mean, one of the best ones I could contribute to is maybe Nelson Mandela, for example, in South Africa. And on the first year of the run, we had Rory Stain, who was his bodyguard. No, he, he went everywhere with Nelson Mandela and he told us. So many stories of the guy and everything that he believed in and everything he tried to do. And he believed in a better South Africa. And for me, a better South Africa can be made through conservation. That's just one of the areas that we can fix. So his inspiration is also incredible because he, he is someone who believed in that South Africa can be an amazing place. And all I want to do is just work towards that.

Sid.B: 42:38

Great. What's the one thing you wish you knew before the launch of your project Run for Rangers.

Harry: 42:44

How much admin there was going to be. If I, if I had known I could maybe have prepared myself a bit more mentally, or maybe if I knew what the kind of challenges we were going to face, we could definitely have saved a couple of grey hairs falling out of people's heads.

Sid.B: 42:59

I think we covered the next question, but I will ask it again. What has been the most challenging and rewarding moment or achievement for you personally, Harry on this journey.?

Harry: 43:09

For me, it was knowing that I can, Do more than I ever thought it was. You know, the, for me, the challenge medically being, but then when I actually completed the a hundred, I was, I, I looked back and I thought, how did I do that? How did, did this happen? I, I never thought I could do something like that. I, I never had a strong sense of self-belief growing up. I never had self-confidence. I struggled socially. I struggled medically, but this changed my perspective on myself. That's why it's so powerful, because you can really challenge yourself. And see actually how much you can do and how far you can really go because you can always go much further than you think and that was the incredible lesson that all of this has taught me.

Sid.B: 43:45

Can you share a memorable story or experience from a ranger that highlights their dedication and bravery.

Harry: 43:52

Hmm, trying to think. It's a tough one. The best I can maybe attribute to is, uh, Vusi from the original runs. He told me about some of his missions that he was sent on out in their reserve. Tunda is a massive reserve. Big five stocked with animals, you know, and I mean they share borders with uh, The Zulu king and they're always bargaining for land there But one of his stories of his one of his deployments where he was in the bush for I think close one to two months talking about all the adventures he had on it where you know He he said one day he walked right up onto a lion like face to face and how he had to Challenge that uh challenge that animal. I mean Just the bravery that came from him, the knowledge that he has, it's awe inspiring because you think, if I walked up on that thing, it would probably have a nice lunch off of me. But he approached it with that calm level, that coolness in his mind, because he knows what he's doing. And it's just inspiring to see someone so, so versed in their field, but yet still so passionate about it.

Sid.B: 44:54

Excellent. You are 20 years old. How do you balance your personal life with your demanding role in leading Run for Rangers?

Harry: 45:03

I'll, I'll be honest, I'm still figuring that out, you know, I want to have my personal, my personal life. I want to go party with my friends. I want to go, go to this place, do that cool thing. Then also I've got to balance my studies, you know, trying to working hard towards those, but then also trying to keep run for ranges alive. It's, it has been a struggle at times where I get a, I get a bit of a grumpy phone call saying, why hasn't this been done? Or, but then the next minute I'll get a phone call from a friend saying, Hey, come on, man, we only got one chance to go do this thing. So it's, it's, it's, you know, I want to, I want to do all these fun things, my friends get those cool life experiences, but also run for ranges. Is that experience that I crafted that I was able to help craft myself that I never want to let go. So it's about finding that balance for myself, you know, making sure we have the right people on board that, uh, that I'm not too burdened and I'm not one single person is too burdened that we can all still carry on with our lives without this being the main focus.

Sid.B: 45:56

Good. One piece of a Good. advice for the listeners on any topic.

Harry: 46:02

On any topic. Hmm. When it comes to doing something challenging in your life, you, you'll always find those road bumps along the way. And it's, it is a mental battle. I, I've had too many road bumps to count. And I, and I, some days I don't know how I made it through, but it was just always that one, the one step at a time. And energy is that you, you have to focus on that next step. Don't worry about the big picture right now, focusing on that next thing done. And I promise you. The big things will add up. It just takes time and I'm trying to live by that analogy every day. There are days where I get down in the dumps because something went wrong. I did bad on this one test, but then I just have to keep marching forward.

Sid.B: 46:45

Excellent. Last question. How can people help and support the Run for Rangers event?

Harry: 46:52

Spread the word. If you, if you want, if you want to get involved, you can check us out on social media. We have a website. We have. Uh, we have all of our fundraising happening at the moment our individual runners. You can check out their campaigns and their individual stories as well, or you can just donate to our general cause. But the biggest thing you can do is just tell people about us. Tell your dad, tell your mom, tell your sister, tell your dog, tell your cousin, tell your best mate at the pub that, you know, Run for Rangers is out there and that they should take a look at it. Because even if, let's say you donate one dollar, one euro, anything, that goes a long way.

Sid.B: 47:25

Brilliant. Harry talking with you today has been an absolute pleasure. Your passion and dedication to wildlife conservation are truly inspiring. Thank you for joining us today on the Pre-Zero Sports Talk.

Harry: 47:38

Thanks for having me.

Sid.B: 47:40

I've absolutely enjoyed talking with Harry Bailey today. I'm truly fascinated by his courage, ambition, and his can-do attitude, especially considering his age and the complex, challenging task of running the event he started three years ago. He's dedication to wildlife conservation is truly inspiring. We hope you enjoy today's episode and we're inspired by Harry's incredible journey with Run four Rangers. If you found value in our podcast we'd greatly appreciate your support in spreading the word. Please download, subscribe and leave a comment on your preferred platform. We also welcome suggestions for topics you would like us to cover in future episodes. Stay tuned for more captivating and empowering conversations as we continue to explore the fascinating intersection of sports events. Innovation, community and sustainability. Thank you. Once again, for being part of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk. Remember, conservation is a team effort. And we all have a role to play. Until next time, stay inspired and keep making a difference.