My Expedition to Costa Rica to save the Leather-back Sea Turtles

Dear Family and Friends,

             In six months I will be taking on the challenge of volunteering to help save the Leatherback Sea Turtles in Costa Rica, the largest sea turtle in the world. I will be joining scientist and other volunteers to help end the devastating effects that plague the Leatherback Sea Turtle and help remove them from the extinction list. By making a donation on my behalf, you are supporting research and local services to help protect these historic creatures.

I currently am attending Columbia Southern University to obtain my Bachelors degree in Environmental Management, I than plan to further my education by attending the University of Hawaii; to receive my Master’s in Conservation Biology. I have a personal stake in this particular event as this will help me be accepted to the University of Hawaii’s master program. Your donation will also allow me to be hands on with the environment and the animals that I have devoted my life to help protect and preserve.

  On this trip I plan to study the Leatherback Sea Turtles and record information vital to their survival. Each night on the beaches I’ll monitor nesting leatherbacks, measure and tag them, record nest locations, and count eggs to help the researchers determine which factors—from El Nino and La Nina to coastal development—influence nesting success for this critically endangered species.

            The expedition fund I have started will raise vital funds for myself, Danianne DeLine, to attend this trip. This fundraiser will help raise the donations needed to attend the Earth Watch volunteer program. All donations received will be donated to Earth Watch to help with the cost associated with saving the Leatherback Sea Turtles from extinction.

            Earth Watch and I have a large fundraising goal for the Leatherback Sea Turtles volunteer program. The expected cost of the volunteer program is $5000. I have set myself a personal fundraising target of $4000 to earn towards the program. I would greatly appreciate your help in reaching this target because without your help we will lose the largest turtles in the world and a great addition to our costal aquatic life.

            I have started my fundraising off with a personal donation of $100’s towards the expedition fund. Donations of $100 are needed, if you cannot afford this, donations of $25 or more will be sufficient. Your donation will bring me closer to my goal and help the Leatherback Sea Turtles from extinction. Also your donation to my volunteer expedition fund is tax deductible.

As a part of our fundraising, we will also be including update photos and emails from the expedition. Once I have reached my goal, I will be attending to help in the preservation of the Leatherback Sea Turtles and will send photos from my journey and emails about my research to all donors. If you wish, you may mail in your donation today in the self-addressed stamped envelope enclosed with this letter or you may donate online at http://www.earthwatch.org/FAF/MyPage/DanianneDeLine. My deadline to get these donations in is the 1^st of December 2010.

            Thank you in advance for your support and for taking the time to read this letter. As one of my sponsors, I will personally let you know how we do. If you would like any more information on the volunteer expedition to save the Leatherback Sea Turtles, please visit EarthWatch.com/expeditions.

 Please feel free to call me if you have any question or comments about the Leatherback Sea Turtle volunteer expedition. I can be reached at 904-520-9130.

P.S- Help save Leatherback Sea Turtles from extinction at one of the most important remaining nesting beaches in the world

Sincerely,

Danianne DeLine