Support The Platform 9 ¾ to Hogwarts Challenge!
“Running to Hogwarts for KEEN because no one should ever feel left out!”
Harry and friends take nine and a half hours to travel to Hogwarts by train. Lilja Leimu-Brown will take a year to go the same distance, 700km – but she’s going on foot! “I would love to go to Hogwarts,” says Lilja, “but there are no trains from Oxford. So I decided that I would run and walk the same distance over the next year.”
Lilja is 8 years old and a pupil at Wolvercote Primary School. She set out on her epic journey on the 1st January 2021 with a 9 km run around Oxford and Port Meadow. So far she has clocked up about 128 km. Her trusty companion dog, Maggie, is running every step of the way with her. “I wanted a rat,” said Lilja, “but I don’t think it would have been able to keep up.”
Lilja loves running but she’s doing this challenge for a very special reason. Her big brother Harry was a dedicated KEEN participant for many years before he passed away in 2012. “I want to raise at least £1 for every kilometre of the journey” said Lilja. “It would be wonderful if I could raise £700 or more for KEEN so that other children can enjoy KEEN as much as Harry did.”
How can you help?
There are lots of ways you can support this incredible fundraiser:
Donate to Lilja here.
Show your support on Social Media - like, share and comment!
Has Lilja’s run inspired you? Why not become a KEEN Ambassador yourself and fundraise for our great cause!