Lenasia Gandhi Walk a huge success
An estimated 10 000 individual feet hit the streets of Lenasia with many organisations also walking.
The organisers of the 31st Annual Gandhi Walk and Fun Run, the Gandhi Walk Committee, are all in delight after the huge turnout and success of its annual Gandhi Walk and the inaugural Lenasia Fun Run, honouring Ahmed Kathrada or uncle “Kathy” as he is fondly known.
An estimated 10 000 individual feet hit the streets of Lenasia with many organisations also walking. The Gandhi Walk Committee actively supported some major campaigns who all enjoyed major success from the platform this event afforded them. These included #CrimeMustFall, #OperationHydrate, #RedMyLips, #67blankets for Nelson Mandela Day, and #SayNoToRacism.
We are very pleased to see the support the public has shown and the thousands who joined us in honouring uncle Kathy, including the likes of Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom, Yusuf Abramjee of Lead SA, MEC Ismail Vadi, Deputy High Commissioner of India and others.
Ahmed Kathrada stated that he has never missed participating in a Gandhi Walk since his release from prison. He expressed his sincere appreciation for being honoured in this year’s Walk.
The Gandhi Walk Committee was also proud to host various beauty pageant ambassadors including Miss SA, Miss Earth SA, Miss Teen Commonwealth SA, Miss Commonwealth SA, Ms India SA Gauteng as well as Commonwealth SA pageant director, Anel De Swardt. The green warriors from the Miss Earth SA pageant were also spotted and rubbed shoulders with the walkers and runners spreading messages of our environment and climate change.
Special moments were captured live by drones with compliments from Orbit Cinema Photography. The walkers were led by the BMW Blue Hornet (solar car) and runners were led by the magnificent road machines of the Charity Riders. The runners and walkers were judged on the road thanks to the support of Cycle Club Lenasia (CCL). The mood throughout the day was vibrant and social – an atmosphere only to be experienced at the Gandhi Walk.
Huge thanks to everyone who attended and a special thanks to all the sponsors, donors, volunteers, marshalling groups, VIPs, water point members and partners including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation (AKF), Cycle Club Lenasia (CCL), Lenasia Athletics Club (LAC) and Impala Primary School.
Beneficiary cheques were also presented to Saaberie Chisty Ambulance, TIBA Services for the blind, Ikageng Old Age Relief Centre, Lenasia Inter Cultural Organisation (LICO) and Let’s Do It Together For Education. While a number of schools were approached, SBSM was the only school in Lenasia that accepted the invitation to participate in the 2016 Gandhi Walk Schools Benefit Programme.
A special thanks for the sound and lighting sponsored by JYM, all décor courtesy of Events by Chetna Morar, private security for the entire event provided by local security firm Lethal Forces, and all electrical for the event sponsored by NHK Electrical.
Amit Parbhucharan, Chairman of the Gandhi Walk
