Luke Douglas-Home, also known as the Coastline Runner, recently visited St Mary's RC Primary School on World Ocean Week to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our oceans and reducing plastic pollution. His visit was part of World Ocean Week, a global initiative focused on ocean health.
Luke's journey started three years ago when he began running around the UK coast, collecting rubbish along the way. His mission is to pick up 1,000 kilograms of shoreline rubbish, and he has already collected 750 kilograms. During his recent run from Lowestoft to Southwold, he collected a full bag of waste, including some agricultural plastic waste. He presented it to the students at St. Mary's to highlight the types of non-recyclable waste commonly found in their local area, and asked them “What do we do?”. The only viable answer is “reduce”!
During his visit, Luke shared his experiences with the students, emphasizing the importance of small actions in making a significant impact. He highlighted the harmful consequences of plastic pollution on marine life and the critical need for maintaining healthy oceans. The students were deeply engaged, learning firsthand about the environmental challenges we face and how they can contribute to solutions.
Following the school assembly, Luke took the students to the beach for a practical clean-up session. With great enthusiasm, the pupils joined him in collecting rubbish, from bottles and bags to cigarette butts and wrappers. Their efforts not only improved the cleanliness of the beach but also fostered a sense of environmental stewardship.
The involvement of the local community was evident during this event, with the mayor of Lowestoft, Nasima Begum, joining the beach clean-up. The support from the local council and the active participation of the pupils symbolized a community dedicated to preserving the beauty of its coastline and protecting our oceans.
Luke's ongoing efforts to clean up Britain's beaches and his passionate advocacy for environmental and ecological conservation have inspired many to take action. His work reminds us that by working together and raising awareness, we can strive towards a cleaner, healthier planet for current and future generations.
Media Coverage: This inspiring initiative and Luke's visit were covered by BBC Look East on BBC1, airing after the 18:00 news, and by the Lowestoft Journal, which referred to him as the "Litter-picking Forrest Gump"
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