Join us in celebrating the 95th birthday of our beloved Co-Founder, Dame Virginia McKenna – the perfect day to pay tribute for all she has done to champion wild animals in need.
Today, everyone at Born Free is wishing Dame Virginia McKenna the happiest of birthdays. You can join us by sending Virginia your greetings and signing her digital birthday card:
Send your birthday message to Virginia
On this special day, it seems appropriate to share some of Virginia’s wise words, with a heartfelt and timeless message – written a few years ago – to inspire us all. Followed by one of her beautiful poems – which she wrote to celebrate black headed gulls.
“In 1984, when Bill, Will and I began the rest of our lives we were, probably, completely unaware of what lay ahead. Our new charity Zoo Check challenged the keeping of wild animals in captivity, and became the Born Free Foundation six years later. Still exposing the wretched conditions in which so many of them still live, but also tackling many of the critical challenges faced by wild animals in the wild.
“Bill, my late husband, has not been a physical part of our work since he died in 1994. But his tireless and selfless pursuit of revealing – through his films, photos and writing – the suffering and deprivation of countless wild creatures in captivity, around the world, never ceases to motivate and inspire us.
“My two loves, my family and my Born Free work, are my life. I know the work will never end – thanks to everyone at Born Free, in Africa, India, Sri Lanka and the USA. And who knows where else on this beautiful, fragile and unique planet.
“Always remembering you, our loyal, generous and caring supporters. You are a large part of the reason I am always optimistic, always hopeful.”
