No organization has done more to help save the cheetah from extinction than the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). I had the privilege recently of meeting CCF's founder, Dr. Laurie Marker, and could see first hand how her tireless energy, enthusiasm and devotion has made CCF the worldwide leader in cheetah conservation.

CCF is unique in its integrated, community-based approach to cheetah conservation -- involving the Namibian farmers in their efforts -- working with them and educating them about ways in which they can live with the cheetah, thereby reducing cheetah mortality. This includes their innovative program of breeding and providing dogs to guard the farmers' livestock and educational programs for the Namibian locals on land management and the value of conserving the cheetah.

Additionally, CCF conducts long-term studies to understand and monitor the factors affecting the cheetah's survival, has initiated an innovative bush project, whereby a fuel product is harvested from the bush and marketed, restoring the cheetah's habitat at the same time.

Equally important, CCF cares for fifty or more orphaned, old or injured cheetahs that cannot be released back into the wild as they do not have the skills or physical capability to survive.

These are just a few of the very important projects that CCF has going. When I found out about the great work that they were doing, I just had to help. I set up my own fund raising website for CCF through First Giving, established an online store, the profits of which will go to CCF, and started a "Save the Cheetah" page on Facebook to raise awareness about the plight of the cheetah and to let people know about CCF's work.