Urban Escape 2024: Heistopoly

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the LEO Club of Wesley Methodist School hosted its first Urban

Escape event in five years at Wesley Methodist School Kuala Lumpur (International) and Sunway Putra

Mall. The primary objective of the event was to raise funds for communities affected by cancer and

blindness and to raise awareness about their challenges. Additionally, it aimed to provide participating

students and teachers with opportunities to engage in critical thinking and creative problem-solving

through a series of puzzles and tasks. This year’s theme, Heistopoly, centered on a crew led by "The

Shadow," striving to take down ruthless conglomerate owners.

In this event, participants formed teams of three travelled to Sunway Putra Mall using public transport, the LRT, to complete various tasks and challenges to earn points. The winning team was determined based on the number of points collected and the speed at which they finished the race. The event ran from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and involved a total of 65 teams, comprising 195 participants.

The organizing committee for this large-scale fundraising project was led by the Funding Director of the LEO Club of Wesley Methodist School, LEO Jasmine Wong, who served as the Organizing Chairperson. She was supported by two Assistant Organizing Chairpersons, LEO Alyssa Yeo Qin Xiao and LEO Anson Chan Yan Shen, along with committee members LEO Eu Sze Zenn, LEO Yau Jing Jie, and LEO Yee Jiu Yeung. Once the main concept of the gameplay and storyline was finalized and the proposal was approved by the Vice Principal of Co-Curriculum, Mr. Lim Chee Ho, the organizing committee promptly began early preparations for the event.

The gameplay of the race was based on a simple yet compelling storyline. This year's Urban Escape cast participants as crew members racing against the clock to execute a heist against corrupt conglomerate owners who exploited the working class, draining their resources while enriching themselves. Led by "The Shadow," the crew aimed to overthrow the elites controlling the economy the conglomerate owners. Their mission was to steal from the ultra-wealthy and redistribute the stolen wealth among the people.

On October 19, 2024, a pre-run was conducted to identify any unforeseen complications or issues. A handful of ex-LEO members were invited to participate in the pre-run. Following the activity, a post mortem meeting was held to discuss the difficulties that arose and devise solutions. Consequently, several changes were made to the roles of the game masters and the gameplay of the event.

After countless discussions and revisions, the day of the event finally arrived. On December 7, 2024, all LEO members reported to school at 6:30 a.m. for a final briefing to ensure the smooth operation of the event. The registration counter, set up before the briefing, opened at 7:15 a.m. for participants. Meanwhile, LEO members departed to their respective stations. At 7:50 a.m., participants were ushered to the school hall, where a welcoming speech was delivered by the Vice Principal of Co-curriculum, Mdm Gan Swit Peng, and the Organizing Chairperson, LEO Jasmine Wong Xain Yi. This was followed by a safety briefing covering the event's rules and regulations.

The event officially began at 8:30 a.m. with a flag-off led by Mdm Gan Swit Peng. A short video was then played in the hall to introduce the first mission for the participants to tackle.

To reach Sunway Putra Mall, all participants traveled on foot and via public transport, specifically the Ampang Line and Putra Heights Line LRT systems. During the event, LEO members were stationed throughout various locations in Kuala Lumpur, with game masters facilitating the games and traffic marshals guiding and directing participants. Station masters managed their respective stations, while committee members patrolled between stations to monitor progress.

The race concluded as scheduled at 1:30 p.m. All participants returned to school safely and submitted their booklets containing their answers to the LEO members. At 2 p.m., a small closing ceremony was held after verifying the attendance of all participants. Once the event concluded, LEO members cleaned up the school compound before heading home.

All in all, the event was a resounding success, raising funds of RM 9883.16 for the National Cancer Society of Malaysia and the Malaysian Association for the Blind, while also raising awareness about cancer and vision-related challenges. It left lasting memories for all participants and provided an invaluable experience for the LEO juniors, marking their first major event. Despite returning home tired, everyone felt an immense sense of achievement.

The planning process for this event was long and complex, but it proved to be a valuable learning experience for all involved, emphasizing the importance of planning ahead to allow ample time for adjustments if the original plan goes awry. The efforts and contributions of the LEO members are deeply appreciated, as their dedication was essential to the success of this event.