Young animal lover launches 'wild' dance fundraiser

Thursday 14 March 2019

A young wildlife enthusiast is not letting his disabilities get in the way of fundraising for his favourite furry friends in his "happy place", Jersey Zoo, and other animals across the world.

Keir Lindsay (8) has been raising funds for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust for three years as part of the Durrell Challenge – despite not being able to take part in the race.

This year, he's on a mission to raise £1,200 for Durrell and is hoping islanders will go wild for the class he has organised with his mum and a local dance teacher that aims to put the "zoo" in Zumba.

Pictured: Keir and his mum Angela Russell.

The eight-year-old has multiple neurological conditions that limit some of his abilities - in particular what he can do physically - but that hasn’t stopped him in spending hours at the zoo, visiting his "favourite friends" including Bahia the bear and Badongo the silverback gorilla, and putting all his energy into raising money for them.

Keir and his family moved to Jersey from Glasgow four-and-a-half years ago. One of the first things the family did, Keir’s mum, Angela Russell, explained, was buy memberships to local attractions - and Jersey Zoo was one of them.

According to his mum, Keir was absorbed right away.

Pictured: Keir loves going to the zoo and learn about the different animals.

“From day one, Keir has been a big fan. We go on a weekly basis. Keir is well known up there, he knows the staff and he has met Mrs Durrell and Lesley Dickie... he is in his element there, it’s like his comfort zone, his happy place. He never says no to going, it’s always, ‘Yes, please can we go?’"

So frequent are his visits now that his aunties and uncles have bought memberships for when they visit the island - and Angela says even the animals recognise him too.

"He has been going for so long that when he calls the otters, they come around to see him. He has retained so much information over his visits. It’s really nice, for me as a parent, to see him enjoy a subject he really likes.”

Video: Henry Cavill will take part in this year's Durrell Challenge.

Keir's love of the zoo meant that he seized on the opportunity of the Durrell Challenge to raise funds for the charity as soon as he heard about it.

Just 10 days before the fundraising deadline, the young boy managed to raise £1,000 - a success that spurred him onto taking up the challenge again.

“He really enjoyed it so we decided to do it again. As soon as Christmas is over, we know it’s fundraising time,” Angela explained.

Pictured: Jennifer Seymour and Keir will be dancing it out on 22 March.

This year, in addition to his fundraising page, Keir and his mum are organising a raffle, with the help of local businesses that have donated prizes, and have been distributing Friday football cards.

They have also teamed up with local dance teacher Jennifer Seymour for a "really wild" ZOOmba masterclass.

Jennifer herself suggested the idea of the masterclass to help raise funds for the Durrell Challenge and all the proceeds will go towards Keir’s fundraising efforts.

Pictured: Keir in full fundraising flow last year.

The class will take place at 18:00 on 22 March at Mont Nicolle School and participants are invited to come as their favourite animal.

“There will be all sorts of dance styles,” Jennifer said. “There will be jazz, street dance, and it will be lots of fun. Parents can bring their child or you can borrow one if you don’t have any! It’s all about having fun and raising money for the zoo!”