Ambulance loving Lucas from Gainsborough raised £1,500 for The Ambulance Staff Charity

Lucas Artiss is a big fan of the UK’s ambulance services and dreams of becoming a paramedic when he’s older.

To support ambulance staff during this difficult time and raise vital funds for TASC, Lucas set himself the big challenge of walking 30,000 steps every day in March.

Throughout the month Lucas received support from the Gainsborough community, including the staff from Gainsborough Ambulance Station who joined Lucas on a 15,000-step walk.

Lucas truly walked his socks off throughout March to amass an amazing 978,824 steps, almost 50,000 more than his original 930,000 step target, which roughly works out to 412 miles, the equivalent of walking from his home in Gainsborough to Portsmouth and back again.

In total, Lucas raised £1,505 for TASC, which could help the national charity provide an extra 25 hours of mental health support or 29 sessions of physiotherapy for ambulance staff injured in the line of duty.

Lucas said: “It’s been a tough challenge and there are days when I'm so tired but then I think of all the money raised so far and how much of a difference it will make to the ambulance staff who need help and I know every step is worth it.

"If we let our ambulance staff fall then who is going to be there to pick us up if we fall? We must look after our heroes.”

There is still time to support Lucas via his JustGiving page, www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lucas-artiss

Julie Artiss, Lucas’ mum, said: “Lucas has been outstanding, he has never once failed to reach his target and he just got on with doing his steps without me having to push him.

"All the time throughout his challenge he has been completing all his school work and homework too. I really cannot praise him enough for his dedication and effort.”

Anna Leng, principal of Lucas’ school Gainsborough Academy, said: “We are extremely proud of Lucas and his wonderful efforts to raise money for such an excellent cause.

"He is really embodying our Academy Gainsborough way.”