Who would have known that a trip to Monkey World as a child, would lead to a lifelong dream coming true and develop into a determination to help save the Orangutans?

Carly Stairs, from Walton-on-Thames, had always wanted to see Orangutans in the wild.

With a desire to take time out of her normal day to day life and do something completely different, she took a sabbatical and volunteered for 2 months at Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Malaysian Borneo.

“They were the most amazing 2 months of my life” Carly said. “It was emotional, rewarding and yet heart-breaking. When I met the orphaned babies for the first time, I broke down in tears at the realisation that their mothers, whom they would normally spend their first 7 years with, had more than likely been killed”.

The Orangutans’ rainforest habitat is disappearing at an unprecedented rate. Forest is being destroyed at 300 football fields an hour to make way for palm oil plantations, meaning Orangutans have nowhere to go. In these cases, adult Orangutans are often brutally injured or even killed and their babies torn from them.

“80% of the rainforest has been destroyed in the past 20 years” Carly said. “If unsustainable palm oil plantations continue to be developed and if illegal logging, pet trade and poaching is allowed to go on, Orangutans could very easily become extinct within the next 10 years.”

Carly is determined not to let this happen.

“I returned home from Borneo knowing that I needed and wanted to do more to help. I couldn’t just walk away thinking I’d done all I can”.

Orangutans are 97% genetically identical to humans with the intelligence of a 5/6 year old child. They are fully self-aware and have feelings and emotions just like we do.

Since her return, Carly has become an ambassador for the Orangutan Appeal UK and has worked continuously, raising money in any way possible for this cause.

In August this year, Carly will take part in her biggest challenge yet; a 25 days, 900km trek across Borneo. A team of 10 people will join together to raise both funds and worldwide awareness about the plight of the Orangutan, as a flagship species for many other endangered animals.

“I feel extremely proud to have been selected to represent the UK in the Trans Borneo Challenge and I can’t wait to meet the rest of the team and get started. We’re determined to make this the biggest fundraiser of its kind”.

“I have reached my minimum fundraising target of $3000 Australian Dollars but now I want to at least double that!”

To help with her fundraising, Carly is holding a charity dinner dance with an auction and raffle on Saturday 19th July at Imber Court Sports Ground, East Molesey, Surrey.

To buy tickets for the event, to find out more about the challenge or to make a donation, please visit: www.carlysborneochallenge.co.uk Based on information supplied by .