Achon 500km run begins in Entebbe
For Love & Mercy. Achon runs alongside Pat Farmer (2nd L) and Matt (R) at Kitubulu, Entebbe on Sunday. Turrini runs on the outside lane while Kate and Justin follow. PHOTO BY GEORGE KATONGOLE
Otuke Member of Parliament Julius Achon started his 500-km run from Entebbe to Lira to raise funds for Love Mercy Foundation charity.
The 42-year-old retired middle distance runner was joined by former Australian legislator Pat Farmer, an ultra-marathon athlete, motivational speaker; Matt Farmer, Kate McDonald and husband Justin as well as Luca Turrini the World Record holder endurance runner and keynote speaker with a passion for unusual running adventures, for the run that will end on Friday.
The team rested in Lugazi where they spent a night and their route will go via Mbale, Kumi as well as Kaberamaido before reaching Lira.
Achon said was excited when the team reached Soroti yesterday.
“I was surprised at how fast we ran and it is a dream come to me for the people of Otuke I am running for,” Achon, a former child soldier, said.
20km everyday
Each of the team members who are being escorted by police run a combined 20km every day split into 5km intervals to complete the challenge. On Friday November 22, the annual cross-country supported by sportswear makers Nike, with an estimated 3,000 participants, will take centre stage.
This awareness run will help to raise $100,000 in support of Achon’s livelihood project that aims at supporting families with farm implements, soy and sim-sim seeds.
More than 13,000 families in Otuke benefit from the scheme.
