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Sign up today for the Denver Gorilla Run and you could........

One lucky gorilla will be selected during the
Edmonton Gorilla Run (September 10th) and the Denver Gorilla Run (October 29th)
and qualify to the final round for a drawing for a trip for TWO to either
Uganda or Rwanda to visit the mountain gorillas! Round Trip Airline tickets donated by British Airways. The two people who have qualifed into the final round will have a 50/50 chance of winnning the trip for two.
( To be held and announced at a later date) Get registered today and we will see you in your gorilla suit.

The Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, sponsored by the Wynkoop Brewing Company sent two people to visit the gorillas in 2008.
Eric and Payton Smith from Austin, Texas were the lucky people who's lives have been changed forever.

Pictures from their experience
Below is the Payton's Travel Journal


Frank,

Words cannot describe the trip to see the Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda. Upon arrival in Kigali we were greeted by Zozo who was very jolly considering it was after 2AM! The accommodations at the Mille Collines were very nice and our breakfast the following morning was first rate.

When we arrived in Kinigi, we checked into the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and enjoyed the traditional drum music, singing and dancing of a group of local children. The views of the volcanoes were breathtaking as the lodge is right at the foot of them.

The next morning (my wife's birthday no less) was going to be our leisure day but we opted to take the hike to see Dian Fossey's gravesite. It was a nice hike, our guide vas very knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna and about Dian Fossey's work in Rwanda. Her work is highly regarded by the people of Rwanda and everyone we came in contact with spoke highly of her as if she were an angel sent to them from God. The gravesite was very peaceful and she as you know rests with her "family members" and friends, a dozen or so markers placed in memory of fallen Mountain Gorillas.
On the way back down the mountain our guide stopped us- saying he smelled an animal nearby but not sure what it was. Thirty or so paces downhill he stopped again- this time to check out something in the trees just off of the trail. This is when we had our first Gorilla sighting. He was a lone Silverback that had separated from the family to find a mate and start his own family. (with no luck as of yet). He was estimated by our guide at 220 to 240 kilos. He was huge! He came out of the trees, came over to check us out, and then sat down right next to the trail for a snack of a celery-like plant that is a staple of their diet. We stood there breathless- in awe at the sheer size, beauty, and gentleness of this creature. Finally, after about 10 minutes he bumbled off into the thicket.

As an added treat a couple hundred yards later we stumbled into a family of Golden Monkeys jumping around from tree to tree in the canopy above us. What an unexpected treat!

The next morning we hiked to see a large family of Mountain Gorillas (28 in the family we were told). Seeing one Mountain Gorilla was amazing but this was what made the trip...

There were so many Gorillas in this group that it was hard to count them. We were able to get up close and personal- within 15 feet of them. We just sat there watching the mommies nursing the babies, the youngsters chasing each other around the trunks of trees over and over and over. Too cute! They would tackle each other and then run away, playing chase and wrestling playfully in the leaves. The alpha male just sat there and watched over the family like a grandfather at thanksgiving on a recliner. Younger ones occasionally would groom him and he would reach over and pull down the branch of a tree to snack on the foliage on top. They moved from one shady spot to the next but did not mind at all that we were there with them. At one point we were completely surrounded by them and it almost seemed like we were a part of the family!

These magnificent creatures need to be protected and cherished as they are so gentle and
we as humans could learn a lot from their family-oriented behaviors.

Everyone was so friendly. The trackers, the porters, the guides- all very helpful and polite.
We had an elderly in our group and they helped her out when the terrain was a little rough and getting over fallen tree logs, etc. There is some hiking involved into the thicket as you are probably aware- the Gorillas don't just come down the mountain to meet you at the bottom - but the guides made it easy enough because they knew where to go.

All of the people at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge were very nice as well and the food was delicious. At night a staffer comes in and builds a fire in your fireplace and they bring hot water bottles to keep you cozy. (It was a bit chilly at night but not in the cabin) The sunrises were beautiful with the volcanoes as the backdrop.


We had the time of our lives on this trip and hope to return someday when our children are old enough. Thanks again to everyone who made this possible, the folks at Wynkoop, the travel agency, all of the sponsors, and to you Frank.

Erik Smith



DENVER GORILLA RUN & EDMONTON GORILLA RUN
2011

"In the Footsteps of Dian Fossey"

Once you look into the eyes of a mountain gorilla.....you are forever changed!
Win a free trip for two to Rwanda or Uganda, Africa

This trip is sponsored by:
Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund and British Airways
________________

We are selecting one lucky person from each event that will qualify to a final round drawing for a free trip for two people. It could be you!

The preliminary drawings will be held on September 10, 2011 during the Edmonton Gorilla Run in Edmonton, Canada and October 29, 2011 during the Denver Gorilla Run in Denver, Colorado. The final drawing will be held at a later date.

Must be present to qualify.
This "once in a lifetime" trip includes:
Round trip coach airfare on British Airway’s form the closest departure city to Rwanda or Uganda, Africa.

DAY ONE - Transfer from airport to hotel, 1 night free lodging for two adults on a bed and breakfast basis at a participating hotel.

DAY TWO – Transfer to the national park, 1 night free lodging for two adults on a bed and breakfast basis at a participating hotel.

DAY THREE - Transfer from hotel to Park Headquarters, 2 complimentary permits for mountain gorilla trekking.

Transfer from national park to arriving city, 1 night free lodging for two adults on a bed and breakfast basis at a participating hotel.

DAY FOUR - Transfer from participating hotel to international airport.

The trip will NOT include a budget for food, miscellaneous tips and gratuities to hotel staff and park officials or any other miscellaneous and personal items. Passport and Visa are at the winners expense.

*All dates are subject to availability at participating hotels and permits availability.
This offer expires 12-31-2012.

________________________________________________________________

OFFICIAL RULES

“In the Footsteps of Dian Fossey”

Sponsored by The Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, British Airways, Denver Gorilla Run and Edmonton Gorilla Run.

Participation in the Edmonton Gorilla Run or Denver Gorilla Run is required. Must be present to qualify.

APPLICABLE LAWS: All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

ELIGIBILITY: To enter, you must be: (1) 18 years of age or older; (2) a passport holder of the country of your residency; (3) not an employee, officer, director of British Airways (Sponsor) or the Canadian Friends of the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. By entering The Edmonton Gorilla Run or Denver Gorilla Run, each participant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and by all decisions of Sponsor, whose decisions regarding all aspects of the event shall be final. The traveling companion for trekking gorillas must be 15 or older.


HOW TO ENTER:
Edmonton Gorilla Run
You must be a participant in the Edmonton Gorilla Run by registering at WWW.EDMONTONGORILLARUN.COM (the website) from 12:00:01 a.m. on August 24, 2011 until 4:59:59 p.m. Mountain Time on September 9, 2011. To enter between 5:00:00 p.m. September 09, 2011 until 9:59:59 a.m. September 10, 2011 you must come to on-site registration of the Edmonton Gorilla Run.

In addition, all persons who are registered to participate in the Edmonton Gorilla Run 2011 as of 5 p.m. Mountain Time on September 12, 2010 through August 23, 2011 will automatically be entered in the drawing and need take no other action.

Denver Gorilla Run
You must be a participant in the Denver Gorilla Run by registering at WWW.DENVERGORILLARUN.COM (the website) from 12:00:01 a.m. on August 24, 2011 until 4:59:59 p.m. Mountain Time on October 28, 2011. To enter between 5:00:00 p.m. October 28, 2011 until 10:59:59 a.m. October 29, 2011 you must come to on-site registration of the Denver Gorilla Run.

In addition, all persons who are registered to participate in the Denver Gorilla Run 2011 as of 5 p.m. Mountain Time on October 31, 2010 through August 23, 2011 will automatically be entered in the drawing and need take no other action.

You must provide your name, date of birth, e-mail address, mailing address and telephone number on the electronic or paper entry/registration form. Incomplete entries are void. False or deceptive entries also are void. Limit one (1) entry per person (excess entries will be void). Entries made in any fashion other than as described in this Paragraph are void. Entries that are not assigned a qualified ID number, as being entered into the 2011 Edmonton Gorilla Run or 2011 Denver Gorilla Run are considered void. All late, lost, misdirected, incomplete, undelivered, scrambled or destroyed entries are ineligible entries, regardless of the reason or the party responsible. Entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. The Sponsor and its affiliates and related individuals will not accept correspondence or telephone inquiries regarding the decision of the selected participant that has qualified to the final round of the promotion or the administration of the drawing.


PRIZE: The Sponsors will give away one (1) Vacation Package for two people. Vacation trip must be completed by December 31, 2012 or prize will be forfeited in its entirety and no compensation given. The Vacation Package includes round-trip coach air transportation for winner and one guest from a major commercial airport near winner's residence to either Rwanda or Uganda, Africa, ground transfers, four (4) nights of double occupancy accommodations at specified locations, and two (2) permits from either UWA or RDB to visit the mountain gorillas of Uganda or Rwanda. Guest of winner must be 15 years old or older to be able to visit the mountain gorillas. Scheduling of transportation, gorilla permits and accommodations are subject to availability; blackout periods may apply.

Sponsor may satisfy its prize delivery obligations through delivery of gift certificates, vouchers and passes for the vacation package components. All vouchers, gift certificates and passes are subject to any and all restrictions stated thereon. Verifiable retail value of this Vacation Package is approximately $12,000. Actual retail value will depend on airfare fluctuation, currency fluctuations, location of destination relative to departing city and timing of trip. Any difference between that verifiable retail value and the actual costs of the prize will not be awarded. Winner may enlarge the time of the trip at his own expense and by his own arrangements, but the Sponsor is not responsible for changing the certificates, vouchers and passes of the package.

Winner is solely responsible for any and all Federal, state and local taxes and fees assessed as a result of the prize and for all travel costs and charges not included in the Vacation Package or exceeding applicable limitations, including, but not limited to, incidentals, tips, telephone calls, travel fees, surcharges, and any other travel-related costs. Prizes may not be transferred, substituted or redeemed for cash, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize or any one or more components of a prize with a similar prize or component of equal or greater value.

DRAWING AND ODDS: On or about September 10, 2011 and October 29, 2011, the Sponsor's representatives will conduct a random drawing from the Edmonton Gorilla Run and the Denver Gorilla Run through which one participant will qualify from each event to a final round drawing to be held at a later date. The winner for the Vacation Package prize will be selected from among the two eligible entries received in accordance with these rules. Odds of winning the final drawing is 50/50.

NOTIFICATION: Winners will be notified by mail, email and/or telephone. To claim the prize, the winner must: (1) respond as directed within seven (7) days of the first notification attempt; and (2) return to Sponsor, by the date and in the manner Sponsor directs in writing, (a) an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release of Liability and Publicity Release signed by the winner; and (b) a Release of Liability and Publicity Release signed by the winner's travel companion. If the winner cannot be reached or fails to timely respond or comply with any of these requirements or if Sponsor determines the winner to be ineligible or disqualified, then, in Sponsor's sole discretion, the winner may be disqualified and the prize forfeited. In such event, the next alternate winner will be notified subject to the same conditions set out in this paragraph.

TERMS OF ACCEPTANCE: By accepting a prize, the winner grants permission for Sponsor's use of the name, hometown, likeness, photograph, voice and statements of winner and winner's travel companion for advertising/publicity purposes without further compensation or permission, unless prohibited by law. By accepting the prize, winner agrees to keep a travel log of the vacation experience and conduct interviews to be published for advertising/publicity purposes without further compensation or permission, unless prohibited by law.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROMOTION, EACH PARTICIPANT RELEASES AND HOLDS HARMLESS SPONSOR AND ITS AFFILIATES AND RELATED INDIVIDUALS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, DAMAGES, LOSSES, EXPENSES, INJURIES, CLAIMS AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROMOTION OR FROM ACCEPTANCE, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS BASED ON DEATH, PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.

By participating in this Promotion, each participant further agrees that any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Promotion, or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and any judicial proceeding shall take place in a federal or state court within the State of Colorado. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Promotion, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether the State of Colorado or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Colorado.

Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of this Promotion or any website related to this Promotion, acting in violation of these Official Rules or acting in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Any use of robotic, automatic, programmed or the like entry methods will void all such entries by such methods, and disqualify any entrant using any such method. ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE RELATED TO THIS PROMOTION OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION MAY BE VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

Sponsor is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by users of any website related to this Promotion, by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Promotion or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions in this Promotion. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or tampering with or hacking of, any website related to this Promotion or any technical failure or malfunction. Sponsor is not responsible for any injury or damage to entrants' or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating in this Promotion or downloading or copying materials from or use of any website related to this Promotion. If, for any reason, this Promotion is not capable of running as planned, including, without limitation, by reason of, infection by computer virus, bugs, worms, tampering, hacking, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which, in Sponsor's sole judgment, corrupts or affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Promotion, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend this Promotion, and select winners from entries received prior to action taken, as Sponsor, in its sole judgment, deems fair and in accordance with these Official Rules without notice to entrants. In the event that this Promotion is challenged by any legal or regulatory authority, Sponsor reserves the right to discontinue or modify this Promotion, or to disqualify participants residing in any affected geographic areas. In such event, Sponsor shall not have any liability to any participants who are disqualified as a result of such an action.

IN NO EVENT WILL SPONSOR AND ITS AFFILIATES AND RELATED INDIVIDUALS (EITHER JOINTLY OR INDIVIDUALLY) BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROMOTION, ANY PRIZES WON, YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE COMPANIES' RESPECTIVE WEBSITES OR THE DOWNLOADING OR COPYING FROM AND/OR PRINTING OF ANY MATERIAL OBTAINED FROM SUCH WEBSITES. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EVERYTHING ON THE COMPANIES' RESPECTIVE WEBSITES IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OR LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

WINNERS LIST: For the name of the prize winner, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope within ninety (90) days after the end of the Promotion entry period to: MGCF, Attn: In the footsteps of Dian Fossey, 4380 S. Syracuse St. #320 Denver, CO 80237

PRIVACY NOTICE: Information participants provide to the Sponsor will be used to communicate with participants regarding this Promotion and otherwise as set forth in Sponsor's privacy policy as set forth on the website. The winner's name, city and state of residence may be posted on the website.

SPONSOR: Promotion is sponsored by British Airways and Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund located in Denver, CO.