Miranda Corps steps out in support of African school
Participants in this years Big 50 celebrate at the finish line. (Photo courtesy Craig Walker)
Thirty-five people walked either 50km or 25km around the Sutherland Shire, in Sydney’s south, as part of the Miranda Corps’ Big 50: Walk for Wheelchairs on Saturday, September 1.
The endurance event, now in its second year, raises money for children with disabilities at Joytown Primary School in Kenya. The Miranda Corps actively supports the school through The Salvation Army International Development office.
The running total for this year’s event stands at $7500. Most of the walk’s participants came from the local community.
“We have a good connection with local gyms and fitness centres and this event really engages community support,” says event coordinator Nate Brown. “This is a great example of a corps engaging the community to help resource The Salvation Army mission in developing nations.”
The walk covered both urban and bushland settings. There were official “pit stops” along the course for refreshments and bathroom breaks. All registered walkers received a map and directions, and were encouraged to seek sponsors on top of their registration fee.
All walkers celebrated their achievements – and the money raised for the Joytown school - with a barbecue at the end of the course. For some, “the end” meant 8-10 hours of walking. “It was physically demanding, but everyone had a fantastic time,” says Nate.
Joytown School is a Salvation Army-run centre in Thika, Kenya that houses, feeds and educates 330 children. In Kenya, where there is no healthcare system for children with disabilities, families must rely on schools like Joytown in order to give their children an opportunity in life. These schools rely on external support in order to maintain their facilities and programs.
“A team from Miranda Salvos travelled to Joytown in September 2011 and we were blown away by the way that children are empowered to live a full life in spite of their disability,” Nate explains. “We are committed to continuing our support of the great work at Joytown.”
Next year, the Big 50: Walk for Wheelchairs hopes to include a family walk so children can also participate.
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