A one-mile track race will take place as part of Herne Hill’s open track and field meeting at Tooting Bec on Saturday.

As British runners line-up at the South London track at 1.20pm, so will runners in Eldoret in Kenya, hundreds of miles away, and the races will start simultaneously.

The race is in aid of a new charity, Run 2Live, aimed at providing a support network to the many hundreds of Kenyan runners living without any income or means of provision for their families.

By supplying footwear, clothing and also an education to both them and younger family emmbers, the charity aims to encourage these young men and women to broaden their horizons and obtain a foothold in a rapidly developing country that needs to harness the potential in its youth.

Runners of any ability are invited to take part in the event and, by doing so, not only get the chance to race against Kenyans but also provide funds for the new charity through their entry fee.

This will initially go towards shipping out footwear and clothing and, when further funds become available, these will be used to go towards providing school fees so that those who have not been through secondary school can begin.

In Kenya, unlike this country, education is not run on a year by year basis, so anyone of any age can begin school at a later stage in their life.

The top three athletes in each country in tomorrow's unique mile event will received a specially designed medal to mark their achievements and a total of £200 in prize money is up for grabs in London with a special bonus for anyone breaking four minutes.

Prizes are sponsored by Real Runners and all competitors taking mark will receive a running product for doing so.

To find out more about the charity and its aims visit www.run2live.co.uk.

Apart from the mile race, there is a full programme of events for runners in the Herne Hill meeting which starts at 12noon with the 5000m.

The meeting ends at 5.25 with the 2000m steeplechase. Entries are also being accepted on the day and full detains can be found on the Herne Hill website: www.hernehillharriers.org.uk