A MAN who runs marathons dressed as a rhino has revealed why he does it.
Chris Green, 46, completed the Brighton Marathon last Sunday and brought smiles to spectators faces as he ran the race in a large rhinoceros costume.
Chris, or "Rhino Boy", has always had a passion for both running and for saving rhinos, in recent years he has run 52 marathons across the world dressed in the bulky costume to raise money for Save The Rhinos.
Chris, who used to live in Horsham, said: “I’ve loved rhinos since I was a boy.
"So, when I heard that there were so few left in the wild that we risk losing them completely I knew I had to act.
“In 2009 I started fundraising for Save The Rhino International.
“They are a very special charity working tirelessly on multiple fronts to protect this awesome species for future generations.
“I truly believe that without the work of Save The Rhino we may already have lost rhino species completely so I have decided to dedicate my life to fighting for rhinos, raising awareness and raising the much-needed funds to protect them.”
There are five different species of rhino in Africa and Asia and three have been classified as critically endangered.
The two greatest threats they face are from habitat loss and the rhino horn trade.
Chris said: “I am happy to say that my heart was filled with so much hope whilst running the Brighton streets at the weekend.
“The rhino and I got such a warm welcome and the crowds of people were just incredible.
“All I could hear from inside the costume were cries of ‘save the rhino’ and it was just so awesome to see so many smiles with everyone willing my rhino on. It helped me so much.
“It gets so warm in the costume. You often feel like you're being slow cooked and at any moment the costume will go 'ping' when you’re oven ready.
“Nothing about running in that suit is comfortable. It's noisy, you can't see or hear, there is chafing to almost every part of your body and your lower back and forearms ache like hell lifting the rhino head up for hours on end.
“I know I've just made that sound awful but it's so worth it to see the looks of delight on everyone's faces, especially the children.
“It’s the ultimate way to get the message out there regarding the rhinos' plight and my discomfort is a small price to pay.”
To donate to Chris's fundraiser visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rhinoboychrisgreen
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