Going ape: Hundreds of people dressed as gorillas go on charity race through London!!

Going ape: Hundreds of people dressed as gorillas go on charity race through London

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 4:01 PM on 27th September 2008

• Comments (0)
  
• Add to My Stories
  

Hundreds of people dressed as gorillas went ape during a charity race to raise money for endangered animals today.

The sixth annual 7km Great Gorilla Run started and finished at the London Underwriting Centre, off Mincing Lane, this morning.

Hundreds of runners dressed as gorilla's run through central London for Charity in London today

Bill Oddie joins one of the runners along the 7km route

About 750 runners joined in the monkey business - setting a world record for the largest ever gathering of people wearing gorilla costumes.

The event was staged by The Gorilla Organisation, a charity which protects the endangered species in central African rainforests.

Jillian Miller, The Gorilla Organisation director, said: "The event has got better every year and the atmosphere among the runners and spectators is incredible. We hope to raise £200,000."

The route takes the fun runners across Tower Bridge

Conservationist and TV star Bill Oddie fired the starting pistol to set off the runners and handed medals to everyone who finished.

He said: "It is great that people are prepared to put so much effort into something so worthy, while maintaining such good humour."

Race winner James Burton, 25, an account manager from Balham, south London, said: "I run regularly but it was much harder wearing the hot and heavy gorilla costume."

One of more than 700 people dressed as gorillas crosses Tower Bridge