
Animalympics helping Zoos
When Josie imagined what happened when the Olympics was cancelled and the animal kingdom step up to compete instead, she didn’t know where it would take her or what would happen to the story. But when she heard the news that zoos were in difficulties in 2020, Josie realised that her poem could be put to good use and the animal kingdom of her imagination stepped up to set up zoo fundraising for their cousins in zoos.
Sharing her vision with athletes, Josie garnered support from many Olympians, Paralympians and World Champions who read their sport’s verse.
What happened next
Josie set up a GoFundMe campaign in summer 2020 to coincide with the time when we would normally be cheering on our athletes competing in the Olympics and Paralympics. In exchange for a donation, donors were sent a link to a video of the poem being read by the many athletes and comedian Adam Hills.
Hundreds of pounds were raised and split between Belfast Zoo, Chester Zoo, Colchester Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Twycross Zoo, Paignton Zoo and the Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Marcus Mepstead Fencing Vice World Champion
Marcus Mepstead reads the fencing verse in the Animalympics
European Champion Nathan Maguire
European Champion wheelchair racer Nathan Maguire reads the Animalympics
Daisy Partridge Eastern Counties Champion Javelin Thrower
Daisy Partridge Eastern Counties Champion Javelin Thrower reads for the Animalympics
What’s next?
The rhyming story has now been published as a 52-page full-colour illustrated hardback book, which you can order here.
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