On 19 September 2026, in Wicklow, Rangers and staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), together with a few friends, will join more than 1,000 Rangers from over 100 ranger teams across Africa in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge. This is the sixth year of the event, but for the first time there will be an Irish entry.

The challenge sees Ranger teams complete a half marathon and a range of other endurance tasks. Being an island nation, however, Team Ireland will be rowing rather than running, and hopefully staying dry in the process! Participants will tackle the 21km challenge on indoor rowing machines, kindly provided by Community Rowing Wicklow (we are enormously grateful for their generosity, enthusiasm and support).

Our small but enthusiastic group of rowers, drawn from both indoor rowing clubs and on-the-water rowing communities, will gather in Greystones Scout Hall to complete the challenge, either solo or in relay teams of four. Many participants have already spent the summer taking part in a departmental "Round Ireland" rowing challenge, covering a notional 1,500km journey around the island. That involved a lot of huffing and puffing!

Now, buoyed by that success, the team is ready for its next adventure. Some participants plan to row the entire 21km alone, while the more sensible members will share the effort in relay teams. It is rumoured that some fierce competition may break out along the way. Cork versus Kerry, anyone? There may even be a few splinter teams in Donegal. Either way, there will be plenty of people "going nowhere fast" that Saturday.

All funds raised will be donated to the Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA), the pan-African professional body representing Rangers across the continent. African Rangers form the "thin green line" of conservation, protecting some of the world's most important wildlife and ecosystems. Tragically, many are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty each year. Funds raised through this initiative will support ranger welfare and care programmes.

With the recent spate of wildfires around Ireland, our own staff know only too well the risks involved in protecting nature. While our challenge takes place in the safety of a scout hall, it is undertaken in recognition of colleagues around the world who face danger every day to safeguard wildlife, wild places and the natural heritage we all depend upon.

By supporting this challenge, you are standing with those who stand on the front line for nature.

Every donation will be matched by the Mark Scheinberg Foundation, doubling the impact of your contribution and helping to make a real difference to the lives of Rangers and their families.

Thank you for supporting the NPWS in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge.