Ballito amputee and bone cancer survivor to paddle Philocaly Trail alongside walkers
Athol will be paddling the first 10km leg from the Tugela Mouth to Zinkwazi this year with ocean enthusiast and author John McCarthy.
The Philocaly Trail, a 5-day beach walk from Mtunzini to Sheffield, returns this year and Ballito resident Athol Kitchen, a bone cancer survivor and amputee is excited to join in on the festivities.
Athol will be paddling the first 10km leg from the Tugela Mouth to Zinkwazi this year with ocean enthusiast and author John McCarthy.
“John offered up the back seat of his canoe and I took the opportunity immediately as it is the only way that I can be part of the fantastic event,” said Kitchen.
“We have had two training sessions together, and I am excited to see how it goes tomorrow.”
McCarthy fulfilled the role of navigation and safety officer for Sarah Ferguson’s 140km open water swim alongside the trail last year, and is well acquainted with the route.
Nikki Williamson founded the event in 2019, to raise awareness around the damage plastic pollution causes along our coastline and the need to protect and preserve marine heritage. She was expecting to do the walk with just 10 enthusiastic friends but ended up with 200 participants and over R60 000 raised for Wild Oceans Conservation, Breathe Conservation and KZN Beach Clean Up.
Williamson was initially unsure that the event would be able to go ahead this year given the coronavirus pandemic, but relaxed restrictions have allowed the walk to continue and it will start on Wednesday, September 23.
Participants can opt to walk the full 5 days or pick and choose a day or two, and more than 430 people will be joining this year.
“The more people that realize how beautiful this stretch of coastline is, the more people will want to protect it,” said Williamson.
Follow the Philocaly Trail Facebook page to keep updated with the event.
