| Thousands sign up to Walk the Talk |
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| Written by Rudo Mungoshi | |
| Monday, 21 July 2008 | |
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From 12 000 walkers at the first Walk the Talk in 2000, this year a massive 50 000 people will lace on their takkies and get out into the sunshine on Sunday. A RECORD 50 000 walkers are expected to take part in the annual Discovery 702 Walk the Talk through Joburg's leafy northern suburbs on Sunday, 27 July. "The sponsors and the organisers are all confident that the 2008 Discovery 702 Walk the Talk is going to build on the success of last year's event and will not only be bigger - but [will be] even better," said the event's public relations and communication co-ordinator, Pippa Rowles. Now in its ninth year, the walk is the largest mass participation event in the world. Some 12 000 people took part in the first walk, in 2000. Entries this year closed on 18 June, and a flurry of last-minute submissions pushed the numbers well beyond 40 000. "As such, no late entries will be [allowed], not even for those wanting to join in on the day," Rowles said. Hosted by the City of Johannesburg, the walk is aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles and fostering good relationships. It starts and finishes at Marks Sports Club in Emmarentia, on Sunday. There is a 5km fun walk, which starts at 11am, for children, junior walkers, prams and dogs on leashes, an 8km walk for clubs, families and friends starting at 9am, and two officially timed walks - of 15 kilometres and 30 kilometres the experienced walkers - starting at 7.30am. Explaining the event, Rowles said the longer routes had changed this year from the past 21 and 42 kilometres to 15 and 30 kilometres. "Organisers believe this will spread out the field of walkers, as the 8km walk attracted a large percentage of entrants last year. "Looking at this year's walk, nearly 80 percent of the entries came in for the two shorter events, but an impressive 8 973 walkers will take on the more challenging 15km walk and 1 626 people will tackle the 30km route," she explained.
Charity Stringent safety precautions are planned for the day, and a number of roads will closed to cars, including Judith Road, Barry Hertzog Avenue, Emmarentia Drive and Louw Geldenhuys Road. The main parking area is at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens at Emmarentia Dam. Mobile pointsmen will direct traffic in and out of the venue, and along the roads leading to Marks Park Sports Club. Participants and spectators can also park their cars at Nasrec Expo Centre, Northgate or Bez Valley Park, from where they will be bussed to Marks Park and back again at the end of the walk, for R15. Park-and-ride pre-bookings can be made on the 702 Talk Radio website; or telephone the race office on 011 270 2702. Nampak, Plastic Federation and Collect -A-Can will recycle the rubbish generated during the walk; 20 recycling points will be set up, with three bins to differentiate between the types of materials to be placed in them at each point. In addition, Netcare medical staff will be stationed at all the watering points and at the start and finish to help anyone who has health problems during the walk. The medical staff can be contacted on 082 911. Among the walkers are the floor hockey champions, Ephraim Mohlakane and William "Jimmy" Masina; the track runner, Thabo Andries Zulu; and the swimmer and tenpin bowler, David Hall, of the Special Olympics team; as well as the former boxer, Jacob Matlala - known to all as Baby Jake. These sportsmen will be joined by Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe and 702 presenters, Redi Direko and John Robbie. Denim, Voodoo Child, Josie Field and Thabo Mdluli will provide the entertainment. Visitors can bring along picnic baskets and relax on the Marks Park field during and after the walk. For further information, contact the race office on 011 2702 702, log on to the 702 Talk Radio website or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Related stories: |
