Huge turnout for day in the sun

Published May 25, 2015

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STORY: MPHATHI NXUMALO and ZAINUL DAWOOD

Pictures: Abhi Indarajan/East Coast Radio, Shelley Kjonstad and Marilyn Bernard

Walking for a cause, for kicks and for their health: that is what people taking part in the Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk did on Sunday.

The walk attracted more than 30 000 people, who walked from uShaka Marine World to People’s Park at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

They chose either the 5km, 10km, 15km, or 20km distance, with the 20km – which took walkers to Virginia Airport – the only one timed.

It was won by Nhlanhla Khayile of Chesterville, while Zelda Schultz of Hillcrest was the first woman across the finish line.

Mayor James Nxumalo also did the 10km walk.

Some 4 774 walkers were under 19 and there were 190 over 70s. The most popular distance was the 5km walk.

Daily News Reporter Zainul Dawood did the 20km trek in two hours, 35 minutes and 17 seconds, and told how the water at the refreshment stations kept him going, how a pensioner passed him and asked him: “Are you in a cruise mode?”

His lasting impression was witnessing Durban’s friendly side. “You can never walk this race without greeting others,” he said.

Among those walking for a cause were Janet Legemaate and her son, Matthew, 17, who were doing the 5km walk, and who were part of a group of 30 raising awareness for the Organ Donation Foundation.

Matthew needs a heart and bilateral transplant.

His mother loved the camaraderie and vowed to take part again next year. Her son, a Hillcrest High School pupil, also planned to take part again as he said he had “a blast”.

Marilee Chananie, 39, of Pinetown, who is a pancreas and kidney transplant recipient, said that doing the walk was her way of giving back after her transplant.

Adding to the atmosphere were the “Hell’s Angels”, a group of nine friends from Shallcross who were taking part for the fourth year.

“The first time we did it out of curiosity and then we got hooked. Every year it gets better,” said Nishal Ramjiawam, a member, who explained they decided on the Hell’s Angels theme “because we wanted to be different”.

The Daily News was the big event’s media partner.

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