Help Amplify a World-First Race with Nature

We have completed the first 4,000km of our 30,000km expedition from Alaska to Patagonia. Our GPS-tagged migratory birds are also on the move.

Help us raise the next $25,000 by September 30, 2026, to sustain our expedition communications, connectivity, educational outreach, and conservation storytelling over the next seven months.

On 1 August, we, Leanna Carriere and Dr. Timm Döbert, began the journey of a lifetime - creating positive impact for people and nature.

Earlier this year, on Chiloé Island in southern Chile, we joined migratory bird scientists to equip five whimbrels—a threatened long-distance shorebird—with tiny GPS backpacks.

One of these birds went to Alaska since and is now on in Ecuador - the migration cycle is almost complete. See our expedition map on the Wings of Survival homepage for its epic journey.

Our goal is simple to describe, but extraordinarily difficult to achieve:

To cycle from Alaska on bicycles and reunite with "our" birds 30,000 kilometers later in southern Chile.

If successful, Wings of Survival will become a world-first Race with Nature, a nine-month cycling expedition inspired by one of the planet's greatest endurance athletes: migratory birds.

We started in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, and will cycle through 15 countries, cross deserts, mountains, forests, coastlines, and even the infamous Darién Gap, averaging 140 kilometres per day as we make our way toward Patagonia and ultimately Ushuaia, at the southern tip of South America.

Every pedal stroke will tell a story.

A story about wildlife and the journey of “our birds.”

A story about resilience of the communities we visit, the wildlife and birds we encounter, the people, and the planet.

A story about the people working every day to protect our planet. And of course, our story, the Race with Nature.

More Than an Expedition

This journey is about much more than cycling.

It is about helping people see nature differently.

Over the last 50 years, wildlife populations around the world have declined dramatically. Habitats are disappearing, and many species face an uncertain future.

Yet there is hope.

Scientists, educators, Indigenous leaders, conservationists, and communities around the world are creating solutions that are making a difference.

Wings of Survival exists to share those stories.

Through expedition updates, photography, film production, educational outreach, scientific collaboration, and community engagement, we will bring audiences on a journey that inspires action and demonstrates that every person can play a role in protecting the natural world.

Why We Need Your Help

For five years, Wings of Survival has been a dream.

It is now a reality.

The scientific partnerships have been built and we continue to meet new aligned organizations and engage new partnerships across different sectors. We are also reaching out to communities along the expedition route.

Now we are asking you to help us make a difference for birds and nature.

Help us raise $25,000 by September 30.

These funds will allow us to fuel and maintain our support vehicle that serves as our home for the next seven months, provide communications from remote regions, deliver educational programming along the route, and share stories of wildlife, conservation, and hope with audiences around the world.

Your donation helps support:

• Expedition logistics across 14 countries, including food, fuel, and essential supplies

• Safety and emergency preparedness

• Scientific and educational storytelling from the field

• Equipment, communications, and content production

• Educational outreach and presentations throughout the journey

• Sharing conservation success stories with audiences around the world

Every contribution, whether it's $10 or $1,000 helps transform this expedition from a personal challenge into a global story for nature.

We often say that every dollar sponsors a kilometer of the journey.

But it is more than that.

Every dollar helps carry a story, education and connectivity. We’ve been working closely with our Education Advisor who will help us bring the story to students and classrooms along the expedition route.

A story and education about birds, wildlife, and nature.

A story about resilience of birds, animals and nature, as well as the people we meet along the way.

A story about collaboration and the many people involved in making a difference now for future generations.

Wings of Survival will become a story that can inspire action long after the expedition ends.

Be Part of the Journey

We left Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, on 1 August.

Already we have faced weather, terrain, fatigue, uncertainty, and thousands upon thousands of kilometers.

Along the way, we are documenting one of the most ambitious conservation storytelling expeditions ever attempted.

We would be honored to have you join us.

Whether you donate, share this campaign, provide food or support along the route, connect us with people in communities we will visit, or simply help spread the word, you become part of the Wings of Survival community.

Ways You Can Support the Journey

• $30 = Sponsor 30 km

• $100 = Sponsor 100 km

• $500 = Sponsor a presentation to a classroom along the expedition route

• $1,000 = Sponsor a day of conservation storytelling on the expedition

• $2,000+ = Founding Expedition Supporter

Together, we can show that endurance, curiosity, science, and storytelling can inspire people to become guardians of the web of life.

Thank you for believing in this mission.

See you on the road,

Leanna Carriere & Dr. Timm Döbert

Meet the Team

Leanna Carriere and Dr. Timm Döbert are an Edmonton-based couple united by a passion for endurance sport, scientific exploration, and nature conservation.

Together, they represent and collaborate with organizations including the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, The Explorers Club, the Scientific Exploration Society, the World Explorers Collective, Global Sustainable Sport, and EcoAthletes.

Over the past five years, they have built Wings of Survival into an international impact initiative connecting science, adventure, education, storytelling, and conservation action.

Now, the journey is underway ...