Adam Prudhomme
Editor
In an effort to shine a light on the plight facing the monarch butterfly, ultra-marathon runner Antony Battah has set out on a 90 day, 4,500 km journey that will span three counties.
His goal is to replicate the migratory path of the pollinating butterflies, beginning his journey from Montreal on July 29 with the intent of ending in central Mexico on Nov. 1. His trek projects to take him through Greater Napanee on Aug. 4, travelling Hwy. 2.
His mission will see him push his body to the limits, running 50 km a day for three months.
“What I would really like for people to remember and understand from this project is that I hope to inspire them to take action,” said Battah. “We’ve been talking so much and talking is fine, talking is important, but we need to fund stuff and understand now that the scientists have been telling us for so many years that we’re not heading in the right direction and it’s even more so today.”
A monarch perched on a milkweed plant next to the Napanee River. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
He hopes his run will encourage others to get involved and help protect the endangered monarch, such as by planting milkweed and helping to combat the loss of their habitat, a major reason for their declining numbers.
“I’m certainly not expecting everyone to start running to Mexico, but what can a journalist do more to help save the planet? What can a lawyer do more to save the planet? What can a teacher? What can the government? What can a company? Everybody has shared responsibility and we all have to pitch in and doing our ultras,” said Battah.
He plans to link his coordinates from his watch to social media and invites anyone to run along side for a couple of kms along the way. He’ll be joined by his family who will be driving a support van close behind.
“Nov. 1 would be really fun from a more symbolic, cultural point of view,” Battah says of his goal to arrive on the first day of November. “I learned as I was digging up and creating this project, the Mexican people and especially in this specific region, has historically celebrated the arrival of the monarch butterfly, which for no scientific reason that has been discovered as we speak, most of the butterflies arrive on Nov. 1 and 2. Not all of them, but lots of them arrive on that date which is the Day of the Dead.”
Culturally it is believed that the monarchs represent the souls of those who have died.
He hopes his efforts will help preserve the monarch for future generations to enjoy.
He encourages people to follow him along via social media, with links found at https://ultratrailmonarque.com/. His site also includes a link to donate to his not-for-profit cause, which aims to raise $4.5 million. Of the money donated, 85 per cent will go towards Canadian and U.S. based organizations that are supporting the preservation of the monarch, the remaining 15 per cent will go towards operating costs of the ultra-marathon.