THE Daily Dispatch is encouraging everyone, including wheelchair users, to enter Sunday’s Daily Dispatch/Windmill Fun Run/Walk 2013 in East London.
“Buffalo City Metro’s traffic office has graciously assisted us in securing a stretch of road from the Wimpy restaurant to the lifesaver’s building at Eastern Beach, which will allow, for the first time ever, wheelchair users to take part in the 4km event,” said race organiser and marketing manager Suren Packery.
“To our knowledge, this is the first race in East London to provide this opportunity,” said Packery.
A parking area will also be set aside for wheelchair users, who will be able to organise special parking tags from organisers before the event.
“I am very excited to get this opportunity,” said wheelchair user Damian Booysen, who will be participating with his family.
Packery believes that, as a community newspaper-sponsored event, it should be open to everyone.
“We feel the fun run/walk is an opportunity for the entire family to enjoy this experience,” he said.
The race features two distances – 4km and 8km – so that casual runners and families as well as the more competitive can take part.
There is a special family ticket of R70, which allows two adults and two children under 16 entry, while individual entries cost R35 for adults and R15 for children.
With the demand for participation T-shirts high, every entrant must collect theirs from Vincent Park Centre on Saturday morning, the day before the run.
Proceeds from the race will be donated to charity, with the Friends of the Aquarium (Fela) being the chosen recipient.
The run will kick-off at 9am from Orient Beach on Sunday, October 20.
Entry forms can be collected and handed in at Tekkie Town, Sportsman Warehouse, and the Daily Dispatch Office in Caxton Street.
For more information on wheelchair access and parking tags contact Zintle on (043)702-2064.