Addy’s mission to save gorillas!

Meet the 11-year-old girl raising awareness for great apes…

Eleven-year-old Addy is helping to save gorillas — and she needs your help!

After reading a book about endangered mountain gorillas, Addy began launching fundraising events and internet campaigns to raise money and spread the word about the threats facing gorillas.

Addy’s latest project – #GorillaHi5 – encourages gorilla lovers from around the world to share a selfie giving an ‘air high-five’, showing support for these awesome apes!

So far she’s collected nearly 30 selfies from 15 different countries — amazing!

Gorillas in trouble!

Addy shares her selfie for the #GorillaHi5 global chain

It’s thought that there are only 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the wild, due to habitat loss, poaching, and diseases passed on by humans.

We share a whopping 98% of our DNA with the majestic mountain gorilla, which means that many of the diseases that humans carry can easily pass on to gorillas — who haven’t built up the necessary immunity to protect themselves from these illnesses.

“I want to get other kids as excited about gorillas and conservation as I am,” said Addy.

“It’s been really cool to connect with other conservationists. I’ve met other young people trying to make a difference in climate change and animal conservation and it makes me even more confident in what I’m doing.”

Fabulous fundraising

Addy has made posters and t-shirts, sold lemonade and donated all of the funds to gorilla conservation groups. She’s even created her own blog, Gorilla Heroes.

Addy also started the ‘#GorillaPie Challenge’ for World Gorilla Day — the idea being that you get nominated, get “pied,” make a donation, then nominate others!

She’s even hosted a Gorilla Gala with gorilla-themed games, crafts, a raffle, and a gorilla relay race — raising over £700!

Keep up the good work, Addy!