A vegan campaigner is set to run from dawn to dusk on the Winter Solstice in memory of the turkeys slaughtered for Christmas dinner this year. Rory Cockshaw, 21, an animal rights campaigner from Bristol, was inspired to take on the almost eight-hour race after meeting a 'gorgeous' turkey called Harriet.
Rory, who will wear a hat shaped as a turkey for the challenge, said he hopes to help people to "realise that veganism is possible" after going animal-free himself in 2020 - which prompted many of his family members to follow suit shortly after.
"Hearing that farmers are trying to protect turkeys from bird flu so that they can be slaughtered didn't sit right with me, especially after meeting a turkey myself," Rory said.
"Twelve million turkeys were slaughtered in total in the UK in 2021, and 16 million were killed in 2020.
"I don't think that's very Christmassy."
Rory's Christmas Run for Animals will take place from sunrise to sunset in Bushy Park, Richmond, on December 21, which is set to be the shortest day of the year.
Rory said: "There's a group of us running throughout the day, some just for part of the marathon, some walking and others are taking on the full seven hours and 49 minutes.
"I'll be running from dawn to dusk in my turkey hat in memory of all the animals who will be killed this Christmas."
He added: "I'm raising money for Viva, a vegan campaigning charity, because I believe the most effective way of helping turkeys is by helping consumers to realise that maybe we shouldn't be eating turkeys.
"The best thing to do is to talk to people and help them realise that veganism is totally possible."
It was when Rory came face-to-face with a turkey for the first time earlier this year that he was inspired to organise his run.
He said: "I met a turkey called Harriet at a sanctuary a few months ago and she was the most lovely animal in the world.
"It was the first time I'd met a turkey and I don't think you realise what gorgeous creatures they are unless you meet them."
Rory said he was disturbed by a newspaper article about turkey supplies after meeting Harriet.
He said: "I spotted a newspaper on a train that had an article about farmers trying to protect turkey supplies for Christmas.
"The word 'supplies' struck me as a very odd phrase because it was almost like they weren’t talking about sentient beings who can suffer.
"And it seemed to me that, as ethical and kind people, we should be doing the opposite if we really want to protect turkeys.
"So I decided that I wanted to raise awareness, raise money and also raise some joy, at least for the turkeys themselves."
Rory's journey to veganism began in January 2020.
He had turned vegetarian in the summer of 2019 before he walked into his first university event of the Vegan Society, in January 2020, which was a talk by a vegan activist.
"I walked in as an environmentally conscious vegetarian and left a committed ethical vegan, and have been ever since," he explained.
But Rory admits his family were sceptical at first.
He said: "For my first vegan Christmas, my family were a bit up in arms because obviously there's the tradition argument and that 'this is what we've always done it'.
"But funnily enough, my family now are essentially all vegan or very, very nearly vegan and on their way to being vegan and the last two years we’ve done fully vegan Christmas dinners.
"This year, my granddad will be having his first turkey-free Christmas dinner which he's said he is looking forward to, which is very exciting to hear."
The marathon will start at 8.05am on December 21 and will conclude nearly eight hours later at 3.54pm.
Rory said: "There are so many vegan options in the supermarkets these days and there are so many easy and delicious recipes available online, it's easier than ever to go vegan.
"It's cheaper, better for you, infinitely better for turkeys and is so much better for the environment. A plant-based Christmas dinner is the way to go."
Rory has a vegan dinner planned for Christmas Day.
This year he will be having meatless chicken as part of his roast, made from wheat and soy protein.
He added: "The first time I tried it, I had to double-check the packaging to make sure it wasn’t real chicken because it tasted so realistic. Plus it's way cheaper that buying meat.
"Going plant-based over the festive season feels much more Christmassy than the alternative."
For more information, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/run-for-animals
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