Rhino runner

She should be fairly easy to spot...she'll be dressed as a rhino.

The costume weighs 32 lbs and has become a regular feature in charity fundraising events - Berry has run in it in New York and Loch Ness, as well as in the London Marathon.

Berry, pictured here outside the Red Lion in Hooe where she helps out, is running the event to raise money for Save The Rhino International, a London based charity which aims to support and conserve critically endangered species of rhino in the wild.

Berry, of Filsham Road, said: "Rhino numbers have plummeted in the last 40 years due to the fact they have been killed by poachers for their horns - which pound for pound are worth more than gold.

"Black rhino numbers have dropped from 100,000 to a mere 3,500 that exist today.

"There are five species of rhino in the world - three in Asia and two in Africa, and they are all critically endangered."

Berry, now 40, has spent much of life either working with rhinos or being involved in fundraising - she was a keeper at Port Lympne in Kent for 18 years, and she has also worked in with rhinos in South Africa and Zambia, helping look after animals being re-homed.

She has run 10 full marathons as well as other events including a memorial bike ride across the Namibia desert to protect the remaining 150 desert rhinos which live in the wilderness.

"Last year a group of about 30 friends did a memorial cycle ride for a friend of ours, Mike Hearn, who devoted his life to working with the desert rhinos. The money raised from the Hastings half-marathon will also go to the Save The Rhino trust to help them as well."

The last half-marathon Berry ran was in Cambodia in December, when she ran as a Malaysian Sun Bear to raise money for Free The Bears.

She said: "Any half-marathon is a fantastic way to raise money for charity but I think Hastings is definitely one of the best in the country just because people are so sweet and lovely with the support they give. So many people come out and support the runners for charity no matter what it is. The killer is going to be Queensway because it is three miles up hill and it is hot and awkward inside the rhino costume. But at the end of the day it is a really fun thing to do. It is a great way of raising awareness and money for your favourite charity.

To contact Berry with sponsorship, email her on [email protected], or ring her on 07926 360294.