Congrats on your 1000th post, joey! 

The bloke behind Bill (just above tha banana) is looking very happy about something, I wonder if he realises he's left his costume at home?

A few more links about the run...

Bill is in photo number 5 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7008863.stm

Bill eating a banana and talking about the run - http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7000000/newsid_7008100/7008156.stm?bw=bb&mp=rm&nol_storyid=7008156&news=1
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lisa : ' Here's a new article about the gorilla run from the BBC website.  This leaves me with the question - where do hundreds of people in London all find gorilla suits?

And to answer Lisa's question, here are some of the FAQ's from their website

4. How much do I have to raise?
When signing up for the run, each participant must pay a £100 non-refundable registration fee. £50 of this covers the cost of the gorilla costume and the administration of the run. The other £50 is a donation to the charity.

10. Can I keep my gorilla costume?
Yes! You’ll never have to worry about what to wear to a fancy dress party ever again!

11. When will I get my costume?
Your gorilla suit will be sent to you within one week of your registration.

12. Are the costumes ‘animal friendly’?
Yes! As an animal welfare and conservation charity we’ve been extremely careful to select a completely animal friendly product, so we can assure you that they are made entirely from synthetic fibres and rubber!

14. Can I personalise my gorilla costume?
Yes! You might find that you’ll be able to raise a lot more money if you wear fancy dress OVER your gorilla costume so why not run as a ballerina-gorilla, a disco-gorilla or a policeman-gorilla? If it helps to raise more funds, and if it’s safe to run in, then please do it.

Wouldn't it be great if someone had personalised their costume and run as a gorilla dressed in a pair of the Goodies Funky Gibbon dungarees!

Here's a new article about the gorilla run from the BBC website.  This leaves me with the question - where do hundreds of people in London all find gorilla suits?

The article is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7007990.stm

'Gorillas' run for conservation

Hundreds of people dressed in gorilla suits have run through London to help save the animals from extinction.

Conservationist Bill Oddie started the runners on the 7km Great Gorilla Run which takes in the sights of Tower Bridge and Tate Modern

All funds will go to the London-based charity the Gorilla Organisation which runs projects in central Africa.

Earlier this month the Western lowland gorilla was officially classified as critically endangered.

The gorilla headed the Red List of Threatened Species for 2007 published by The World Conservation Union.

Magnificent animals

It is hoped the event will raise more than £250,000 to help save the world's remaining gorillas from extinction.

Jillian Miller, the Gorilla Organisation's executive director, said: "Just last week, the Western lowland gorilla was officially classified as critically endangered, just one step away from becoming extinct.

"The Mountain gorillas also face imminent extinction with only 700 left in the world, but everyone who gets involved with the Great Gorilla Run is helping to save these magnificent animals."

Bill Oddie, who started the runners, said this was one of his favourite events of the year.

He said it was a "very very serious subject and very very serious situation," and added that a lot of good could be done "with an enormous sense of humour".

The route passes the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Southbank, St Paul's Cathedral and London Bridge and takes the average runner one and a half hours to complete.



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William_Grimbling : ' What, no gibbon jokes yet?

I was thinking the same thing.  Great minds (or maybe I should say "loony minds") think alike... 
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William_Grimbling : ' Will Bill be in a cossie? Probably, gibbon half a chance.  If so, how will we know it's him?  IT'll be gibbon take.  We'll have to go with what we're gibbon.  I'll leave now...

Will he have yellow gibbons in his hair?  (well *someone* had to say it).

I found the clip from a previous Gorilla Run on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=iTcYUdQlRiA. 

Bill is interviewed about the environmental cause being highlighted by the run (the plight of African gorillas in the wild).  Before anyone asks - he is *not* dressed as a gorilla and is not one of the runners.

What, no gibbon jokes yet?

Will Bill be in a cossie? Probably, gibbon half a chance.  If so, how will we know it's him?  IT'll be gibbon take.  We'll have to go with what we're gibbon. 

I'll leave now... 

Hope it's not too hot in those costumes!  There'll be apes dropping everywhere!

There's a clip floating around of a previous run, with Bill commenting on it.  It looked like a fun event - a lot of people in the gorilla costumes further dressed up with various props and clothing.  I'll see if I can dig up the link.

From the Daily Mail.....

HAIRY TV man Bill Oddie, 66 (something of an endangered species of old silverback himself) will lead London's 'Great Gorilla Run' on Saturday, when runners dressed in ape costumes jog 7km in aid of The Gorilla Organization charity.

If you'd like to go along to run or spectate then there are more details at http://www.great-gorilla-run.co.uk/