Love for gorillas with fundraising walk:

By Africa Secrets,

Uganda’s main attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla which is said to share 98.4% of its genes with human beings. Out of the estimated 720 mountain gorillas left in the world, 340 of them are found in the jungles of Bwindi Forest National Park which is also believed to have over 32 groups/families of gorillas.
Selling of gorilla permits since the early 1990s has been the solitary responsibility of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) as mandated by an act of parliament. However, recently Uganda Wildlife Authority decided to privatize one of the habituated groups, the Nkuringo family of gorillas. And decided that with effect from August, the buying of Nkuringo gorilla permits will be done through the Uganda Safari Company which is owned by Jonathan Wright.
A warm mist hangs in the air as you walk and climb, pushing through the forest until you make eye contact. The 350-pound silverback gorilla stares back at you, unaffected, and continues to chomp on the stalk of a banana tree. You, on the other hand, are left speechless, your perspective forever altered by this close encounter with one of humankind's closest relatives.
Nichol, who has a bachelor's degree in zoology, has always been an animal lover. For years, he and his wife, Brenda, have owned and helped find homes for greyhounds retired from racing.
He traces his emotional connection with gorillas to a December 2005 afternoon, when a friend talked him into seeing the remake of "King Kong."
Even more emotional, about a year ago, was seeing the movie "Instinct" on TV, with a scene in which poachers kill gorillas. "It absolutely put me on my knees," he said. "I just knew deep down in my heart and soul I had to do something."
For about two months, Nichol, who works for The Legacy Group, a Bellevue-based mortgage firm, has been taking weekly walks of up to 24 miles on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, starting near his Woodinville home.

Gorilla photos and memorabilia decorate Nichol’s Bellevue office. In addition to his planned fundraising walk to Portland, he has recorded a music CD and is working on a DVD, both to benefit the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, a nonprofit organization working in Africa to protect the gorillas.

With the help of friends, he has also recorded a music CD and is working on a DVD, both to benefit the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project, a nonprofit organization working in Africa to protect the gorillas. He also is accepting donations for the project. And he plans to visit Rwanda to see the gorillas himself for the first time this fall.
What you don't see is that Nichol, 42, is preparing to put his feet where his heart is. In June, he plans to walk from Seattle to Portland to raise money for a nonprofit group working to protect the last 700-some mountain gorillas on Earth.

"Some people call me the Crazy Gorilla Guy," says Drew Nichol, and by now you've pretty much figured out why. What you see is evidence of Nichol's passion obsession, perhaps for Africa's mountain gorillas, one of the most endangered species on the planet.

Those closest to Nicole demonstrate what he really feels. For example Wuebel is in awe of Nichol's dedication. "He really wants to make a difference on this, and I don't think he's going to stop until he does."