Epsom man pounds Epsom streets for charity

Local man and charity CEO, Lucas Mee, ran 125km in under 24 hours this weekend, joined in part by
local MP Helen Maguire, to help raise funds and awareness for children on the streets in Uganda.
Starting at 3pm on Saturday 21 st September 2024, Lucas pounded the local pavements of Epsom and
ran on a treadmill through the night. Lucas completed the 125km in 23 hours and 27 minutes.

On the morning of Sunday 22 nd September he met Epsom and Ewell’s MP Helen Maguire and her running group, the Epsom and Ewell Harriers Athletic Club in Horton Country Park, to cross the 100km mark and share with them the reasons for his run.

Lucas is fundraising for S.A.L.V.E. International – the charity he is CEO of – which supports young
people and their families in Jinja, Eastern Uganda, to leave the streets and have brighter futures
through education, business empowerment and permaculture.

This epic run is part of a month-long fundraising campaign to help raise £10,000 for young people
who live and work on the streets. Thanks to Lucas’ fundraising efforts this total has now been
beaten.

Lucas says, “Every day, children in Uganda leave their homes and families in search of a better life.
They can travel vast distances to reach major cities, hoping for new opportunities, but often end up
at the mercy of the street, where life is constantly dangerous.

“S.A.L.V.E. International works to provide immediate support to street connected children in Jinja,
with the aim of helping them to return home and achieve their full potential.

“To raise awareness of the extreme decisions that children on the streets are forced to make, as well
as raise vital funds for our work, I have decided to put my fitness to the test and take on this
ambitious challenge.

“125km is the equivalent distance between Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and Jinja where we are
based. This is a journey that many children make by foot. I know it will be tough, but it’s nothing
compared to spending even one night on the street”.

Lucas’ challenge is part of S.A.L.V.E. International’s Step up for S.A.L.V.E. campaign, which invites
people across the globe to take on their own fitness challenge in September to help raise funds for
children living and working on the streets of Uganda.