Cape Town’s most renowned community sports event has changed its name to be all inclusive of the mother city’s diverse community. The Sunfoil Cape Town Big Walk 2016 was officially unveiled at the Sports Science Institute in Newlands on Wednesday evening. Formerly known as the Sunfoil 10km Big Walk, the new moniker aims to make the event represent all walks of life. The walk will take place on the 28th February 2016.

“There was an outcry for diversity and our aim is to reach each and every Capetonian,” says the event director Dr Elias Parker.
New sponsor Spur Steak Ranches has jumped on board, adding its own popular brand to the family day.

“The franchise not only represents families but a life filled with adventure,” says Dr Parker.

Other sponsors Polar Ice-cream and Sunfoil have remained the same. The initiative focuses on its purpose to address social responsibility projects. Since the first event in 2000, the Big Walk has been raising funds for two key beneficiaries: Red Cross Children’s Hospital and Academia Library. Under the new structure of the Cape Town Big Walk (CTBW) Foundation, funds raised will be channelled towards existing beneficiaries, but also towards projects and charity organisations that are aligned with the CTBW’s support pillars of education, fitness and health.

“Our aim is to create awareness of literacy. The scope was then broadened to include the health of children,” says CTBW chairperson Dawood Esack.

“What is so spectacular about this event is that people continue to walk for the benefit of others.”

Red Cross Children’s Hospital is the biggest paediatric facility however it battles to cope due to a lack of resources and space to accommodate patients. The Big Walk that was launched in 2000 donated most of its proceeds to the hospital for 15 years and remains a vital part of its functioning.

“This has really been a wonderful partnership as we struggle to serve our patients as we are under staffed and under resourced,” says CEO of The Children’s Hospital Trust, Louise Driver.

The newly introduced foundation is aimed at raising funds to collect enough books for the Islamic Library, which is currently undergoing a massive revamp. A creative method was devised by the team of directors in order to monitor the number of books collected.

“We will be measuring the volume of books in kilometres,” says Parker.

The organisers of the walk work very closely with the city to ensure crowd control, safety and immunity of health hazards on the day of the event.
The CTBW marketing team will be going into areas on the Cape Flats to not only promote the event but to encourage a healthy lifestyle. They hope that by offering physical training and advice, participants will improve their stamina and motivation.

“We see there is a problem with people wanting to participate in any form of exercise or even finishing an exercise routine. Athletes are not born overnight and that is not what we expect. Good exercise routines are built gradually with time, volume and speed. We would like to address this issue by offering training routines with people from walking clubs and those who walk regularly. This will be ollowed by assessments by dietarians,” says Parker.

The scenic route of the Atlantic coastline has become unique to the sports event and is said to have a tranquil effect on walkers while they enjoy some of Cape Town’s beautiful attractions.

“I was once told beauty surrounds us but you have to be in a garden to see it. This is not the case. The Big Walk showcases Cape Town’s fine’s coastlines,” says MC Africa Melane.

Entries for the big walk open on Monday 30 November 2015 and close 23 February 2016. Entry fee is R30. The route to be taken is from Cape Town Stadium Forecourt to Green Point Track.

For more information contact 021-637 1607 or email bigwalk10km@mweb.co.za. VOC