Theresa Taylor
DOGS, children, ice cream and celebrities were all part of the fun at the world’s largest walking event, Walk the Talk.
The Talk Radio 702 and Discovery Health event took place at Marks Park yesterday and was well supported by both the able-bodied and the disabled, with about 55 000 participants in total.
Some participants power-walked, while others puffed on cigarettes and strolled leisurely.
Moms and dads pushed their toddlers in prams and other walkers led their well-loved pooches.
A trio of Yorkshire terriers did the 5km route in tutus, while a pair of French poodles showed off their perfectly groomed fur.
Linda Nxumalo, who is in a wheelchair, completed the 5km event with two colleagues.
“I have not pushed myself for such a long time and I want to start exercising more,” he said.
It was his first Walk the Talk, but he is keen to come back next year and hopes more black, disabled men will join him.
The walk also provided a platform for a variety of activists.
Celebrity walkers from the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation included Lucas Radebe, Baby Jake Matlala, Shaun Pollock as well as American Olympian and retired swimmer Mark Spitz.
Kim Williams and Rachel Meth of Team Zodwa walked the 30km route carrying backpacks and dragging two tyres behind them, a total load of 35kg each.
Dragging the extra weight is part of their preparation to summit the seven highest peaks, seven highest volcanoes and seven highest islands for charity. Their goal is to feed a million children. For every metre they climb, sponsors provide food for a child for a year. In September, they will climb Mt Elbrus in Russia.
Some participants walked the 5km route backwards. Imiël Visser and a team of activists from NORML ZA: Cannabis For Cancer Patients did the route backwards.
“Walking backwards is about highlighting the absurdity of criminalising cancer patients who want to be able to legally use or grow medical marijuana,” he said.
Visser became a believer in the benefits of cannabis for pain relief last year when he cracked a vertebra. “I was in chronic pain and nothing else would help,” he said.
Organisers of Walk the Talk said they were extremely pleased with the turnout and that the event had gone smoothly.