Pretoria - The Department of Sport and Recreation will on Sunday host the Big Walk as part of efforts to promote a healthy nation.
The annual event has been taking place since 2012 and has grown from 3 800 participants to beyond 15 000 this year.
Taking place at Fountains Valley resort in Pretoria, the project is conceived as a result of the increase in obesity and the high incidence of lifestyle diseases.
“The reason for the Big Walk being in October is that October is World Walking Month. Walking events have long been regularly organised around the world.
“One of the principal aims [of the walk] is to encourage an increased number of people to take up the habit of walking and to begin to engage in walking as a conscious choice in their leisure-time activities,” said the department on Wednesday.
The department encouraged the public to walk in family groups, as it gives valuable boding time that helps to keep families together.
“A family that plays together stays together,” said the department.
The walk will kick off at 7am on Sunday morning and people can participate in the distances of 5, 10 and 15 km. – SAnews.gov.za
