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A local finance firm is pledging £10,000 towards a campaign to bring an end to markets selling live wild animals.
Prospect Capital has donated the money to Angela and Martin Humphery - a couple who have started a charity walk to raise money for the campaign - and is now calling upon islanders and local businesses to get involved, and help give over £50,000 to the cause.
Angela and Martin have a combined age of 180 - they are 89 and 90 respectively - but that hasn't stopped them from 'fast trotting' 3km a day around Hampstead Heath.
Last year, after Martin’s open-heart surgery, his doctor suggested the couple undertake regular walks, making exercise a high priority for them, even during the covid-19 pandemic.
When the alleged source of the pandemic was reported to be the wildlife markets in Wuhan, China, which are known as 'wet markets', the couple became determined to help prevent future outbreaks as well as bring an end to the cruelty these animals suffer.
Pictured: Angela and Martin have received the support of celebrities like Ricky Gervais.
Inspired by Colonel Sir Tom Moore, the couple turned their daily walks into a charity event - a mission they have called 'Going Bats for Wildlife' - with the hope of raising £1m for the Born Free Foundation, whom they have been supporting for a long time.
Born Free has been campaigning for the closure of wildlife markets and, as result of the covid-19 pandemic, has been lobbying the World Health Organization (WHO) to close these markets for good.
"These brutally cruel wildlife markets are not only hell-holes for our fellow creatures but health hazards for us too," Angela said.
Moved by the couple's efforts, Prospect Capital have pledged to £10,000 to their fundraising, doubling their current total.
Pictured: Prospect Capital is hoping to drum up enough support for a £50,000 donation.
In addition, the company said they felt very fortunate to be surrounded by a network of people who share their desire to stop the cruel treatment of animals, and are reaching out to their contacts and business clients to ask them to join Prospect Capital in supporting Angela and Martin's cause.
Prospect Capital hopes to raise the total of combined donations to over £50,000.
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