UPDATE: Thomas More College’s Long Walk postponed

IN a joint statement, the chairman of the Thomas More Trust, Wayne Jaggard, and the chairman of the risk committee, Melanie Küster, noted that the school’s long walk has been postponed.

“All of the available facts on the Covid-19 strain of coronavirus show it could manifest as a bad case of the flu in people whose immune systems are functioning optimally, but could have severe ramifications in individuals whose immune systems are under strain from alternate sources. The Long Walk is intentionally an endurance event, and such events place temporary, substantial strain on the immune system of the individual,” read the statement.

A new date for the long walk has not yet been set. The Highway Mail will post an update on the annual event as soon as the school confirms a new date.

AS Thomas More College’s highly-anticipated Long Walk approaches, the school honoured four people who have played a phenomenal part in the annual event over the last 58 years.

The late Mike “Fluffy” Leffler initiated the Long Walk in 1963, when, in those days, it was referred to as the 50 miler.

Louis Conradie was the only student to complete the first long walk in 1963 alongside Mike. Louis has, over the years, completed 21 80km long walks. He was a founding learner at Thomas More College, one of the 55 boys who arrived at the new school in 1962. He became an educator and taught at Thomas More at its high school for 15 years.

Bill Pickering was the high school headmaster from 1979 to 1991, has completed 30 consecutive 80km long walks and then several 55km events. Bill, who will turn 90 years young in October, has signed up to walk again this year.

Last, but certainly not least, the school also paid honour to Philip “Papa” Lanz who, for 22 years, has been its closing marshal and has encouraged many walkers to keep going and cross the finish line. Papa Lanz has been a teacher at TMC for 25 years and has completed 2 x 80km walks and one x 55km walk.

ALSO READ: Thomas More College’s past pupils bring new energy

Thomas More College will host its 58th 80km Long Walk on Saturday, 14 March and invites Highway residents to sign up and take part.

“As one of the longest standing traditions of the school, it has taken place every year since 1963 and everyone from Grade 1 to matric participates in this proud tradition,” said the school’s admissions and marketing co-ordinator, Juliet Hartley.

The entry cost for visitors and clubs is R340 per person for the 25km (starts at 7.30am) and R440 per person for the 55km/80km (starts at 1am).

Registration will be held at Thomas More College on Thursday, 12 March and Friday, 13 March from noon to 6pm. The number of walkers is limited, and entry is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Visit www.thomasmore.co.za/parent information/ for details on registration and the route.

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