Oasis Academy South Bank staff member walks 100km in the London to Brighton Challenge

Back in November last year, Leslie McCrae, a Catering Manager from a Central London secondary school was prepped to embark on a 60+ mile walk in a bid to fundraise for healthy snacks to be given to Oasis Hub Waterloo.

Leslie, from Oasis Academy South Bank has now completed that momentous challenge and raised over £2000 in the process. The dedicated staff member started fundraising at the end of October 2020 and had already secured an incredible £750 within two weeks.

He embarked on his walk at 08:00 on Saturday and finished at 07:27 on the Bank Holiday Sunday in May a total walking time of 23 hours and 38 minutes and had an average walking speed of 4.23 km/h across hills and puddles with beautiful landscapes as far as the eye can see.

Leslie McCrae, Catering Manager from Oasis Academy South Bank, commented saying; “A massive thank you to everyone who supported me and donated, it means the world. Through the past year we have been funding free breaktime snacks for all the children at Oasis Academy South Bank, taking away the inequality of the haves and the have nots, as it’s a stigma that many children find difficult to deal with and often go without food because of it.”

“Due to the obvious funding difficulties of recent times during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise funds at the same time by walking overnight in the London to Brighton Challenge, it was indeed a challenge, and I loved every minute of it.”

Now in its 10th year the London to Brighton Challenge saw over 2,000 adventurers take on the Capital to Coast route and test their grit over the Bank Holiday weekend in May.

Richmond-Upon-Thames was the starting point, and it was then over to the North Downs with wonderful Surrey & Sussex countryside to half way at Turners Hill. The full 100 km route headed over the South Downs before the welcome sight of the Brighton coastline comes in to view.

Oasis Hub Waterloo has been in the Waterloo community for over 15 years, striving to help people of all ages and situations feel included, to know that they can contribute and realise a deep sense of belonging.