With little over 12 days before the annual Sunfoil 10km Big Walk, event organizers have spoken glowingly of the contributions made by volunteers from within the community, whose efforts often go unnoticed. The Big Walk is considered the third biggest social sporting event of its nature in the Western Cape, behind only the Cape Argus Cycle Tour and Two Oceans Marathon. With well over 20 000 participants attending each year, community assistance is seen as an integral part of the logistical aspect of hosting such an enormous event.

The Big Walk is a mainstay in the events calendar of the Western Cape and with less than two weeks before this year’s edition, Chairperson Dawood Essack, paid recognition to the sacrifices made by volunteers, stressing that the event could not be put together without their help.

“If one just looks at the number of volunteers that we have, people that just come out and help, everyone is just playing a role. It is one happy family,” he stated, further expressing his gratitude towards the communities assistance.

Proceeds from this year’s walk will be channeled as charitable donations towards the Red Cross Children’s Hospital for the improvement of pediatric facilities, as well as for construction on the new Academia Library.

“Those people that are entering and taking part in the walk, it is only through you that we are able to make those great contributions towards the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, as well as the Islamic Library,” said Essack.

As in previous years, the walk will start at the Forecourt of the Cape Town Stadium, proceeding along Beach Road in Sea Point. The finishing point will be at the Green Point Athletics Track. The showpiece 10km walk will start promptly at 7am, with the 5km event kicking-off 30 minutes later.

Amongst this year’s sponsors are Polar Ice-Cream, Willowton, Sunfoil, Tekkie Town, and Winners Supermarket.

Pre-entries for the Sunfoil 10km Big Walk on the 1st March can be done online at www.topevents.co.za, at a cost of R30. Entries close on the 24th February, so community members are urged to sign up as soon as possible. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)