The Lancet Thames Path Challenge 2019 team at the start line, with Ashley Cooper (fourth from right) and Ashley Steeper (far right).
A team from medical journal The Lancet walked for more than a marathon distance along the Thames Path to raise thousands of pounds for homeless people in South London.
The group of nine stepped out for 50km along the river from Putney to Runnymede to take part in the Thames Path Challenge earlier this month (7th September).
So far, the team has raised more than £2,600 for the 999 Club, with donations still coming in.
Senior assistant editor Ashley Cooper volunteers regularly at our Night Shelter in Deptford and took part in the challenge.
She said: “It was an early start – it was lovely seeing everyone arrive and the adrenaline kicks in as you set off. We had done some training walks so it was nice to do the event we had been preparing for, for months.
“It was good for the team to work towards the goal and support the 999 Club. As a volunteer at the Night Shelter, I know first-hand how people can benefit from the money we raised.”
Her colleague Ashley Steeper, also a senior assistant editor at the journal, said the thought of fundraising for a good cause was what spurred on the team to complete the challenge.
She said: “The Challenge was a brilliant opportunity to bring together our colleagues from departments all across The Lancet to work together towards a cause that is important to all of us. Living and working in London, it’s impossible not to notice that far too many people are affected by homelessness in our city. To know that the money raised could make a considerable difference to a small charity doing vital work to support homeless people really helped motivate us to reach the 50 km mark.”
The Lancet team after the 50km trek.
The 999 Club is the charity of choice for the London office of The Lancet for this year and staff have raised thousands of pounds and volunteered for the 999 Club.
Gulen Petty, Head of Fundraising at the 999 Club, said: “We’re hugely grateful to the energetic team at The Lancet who each walked more than a marathon to raise money for people who are homeless, helping them make the first step off the streets and onto a new stage of their lives.”
If you would like to take part in a challenge event for the 999 Club, please contact Fundraising@999club.org.
To find out how you can donate to the 999 Club, visit 999club.org/make-a-donation/