The grandchildren of an orangutan fan have raised more than £300 for apes and their habitats by setting up their own obstacle course.

Charlie, 13, Chloe, 11 and Kai Sillence, eight, created a jungle themed trim-trail across their garden in Vale Road, Gravesend, in support of the work the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) is continuing to do throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Charlie, Chloe and Kai talking about the work of SOS before doing laps of an assault course in their garden to raise money

With school and work closed, Charlie, Chloe and Kai decided to create an Ape Trail in their back garden to support a cause close to their grandmother's heart.

Nan Alison Birstow is a 59-year-old voluntary ambassador for SOS, and has been travelling to Sumatra, a large Indonesian island west of Java and south of the Malay Peninsula, for the past two years.

While in Sumatra, Alison not only gives talks and presentations, but also supports teams who are rescuing orangutans from the knock-on effects of deforestation, danger and also helps communities living next to jungles understand the value of forests and how to protect them.

However, due to Covid-19, Alison will not be able to travel and offer her support this year.

She said: "The coronavirus isn't only an issue for people in Sumatra, but it can also infect the orangutans.

"Human and orangutan genomes are 97% identical. This means they are just as likely to get Covid-19 as we are.

"To protect them, vets and workers are wearing PPE, but this is really expensive, so fundraising now is really important."
Alison's passion for orangutans clearly rubbed off onto her grandchildren, and with lots of spare time on their hands, Charlie, Chloe and Kai decided to do something to help.

In a video showing off their course and encouraging people to donate, Chloe said: "Due to Covid-19, it has become very difficult to get supplies that orangutans need and most supplies are now very expensive.

"To help raise funds my family have organised an ape trail. The money will go to the brilliant charity, Sumatran Orangutan Society."

Alison said: "Charlie, who is the cameraman behind the whole thing, is normally very shy, so it's amazing to see what they're doing for this cause.

"We left the three of them to it. Their mum couldn't believe it – after two weeks of hardly talking to one another because of lockdown, they were playing together in the garden and raising money.

"The way they all worked together and supported one another was amazing."

Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered, with only around 14,600 left in the wild.

Their natural habitat in Indonesia has the highest rate of forest destruction in the world.

SOS protects orangutans, their forest and their future by encouraging local people to stop chopping down trees and find ways to make a living through conservation.

So far, the Sillences have raised £390 of their £1,500 target.

If you would like to donate to Charlie, Chloe and Kai's Ape Trail fundraiser, click here.

To find out more about the Sumatran Orangutan Society visit their website here.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

The KM Group is committed to helping the community through the KM Charity team. For more information and to find out what other good causes you can get involved in click here.