Record numbers for Walk My Way

A record contingent of more than 825 walkers has signed up for Walk My Walk events in May to support children in refugee camps to go to school – and the number is growing every day!

The number of participants is more than double the highest turnout in the previous three years of Walk My Way events and Walk Your Way individual walks in 2020. As of 30 April, more than $168,279 has been raised and education supported for more than 6,472 children – just over half-way to the target of 10,000.

It’s not too late to get involved. You can still register as a walker for one of the events, or to do your own walk in your own time, or to donate towards the goal of $260,000. And volunteers are also still needed for the major Barossa Valley Walk My Way this Saturday in South Australia.

As well as the Barossa Valley Walk My Way on 1 May, where more than 600 people have so far registered to walk, run, wheel, or cycle their way along the 26-kilometre course from Nuriootpa to Lyndoch, more than 40 members and friends of St John’s Lutheran Church Unley will walk up to the same distance through suburban Adelaide on the same day. People from the communities of Encounter Lutheran College Victor Harbor in SA and Good Shepherd Lutheran College in the Northern Territory will also stage walks on 4 and 22 May respectively.

Among the new recruits for the Barossa Valley Walk My Way are Dave L and Dave P. The ‘Daves’ (Dave L on left, and Dave P on right) are part of a Walk My Way team from Lutheran Disability Services (LDS) in the Barossa Valley.

Two LDS clients will be assisted in wheelchairs, while another two will power along under their own steam. Joining them will be their support workers, like Tamara (second from left in back row of team photo above), who says: ‘This is a wonderful chance for our clients to give back to the community and demonstrate that everybody has the ability to make a difference for the good of others.’

‘We’re all very excited about the challenge’, she says. ‘Dave P insists our team’s theme song has to be “These boots are made for walking”.’

Support worker Julie will assist Dave P in his wheelchair for his Walk My Way and says, ‘We are so inspired by what these children in the camps over there have to go through, that this is the least we can do’.

‘It is a privilege and honour to walk with our clients to support them and enable them to contribute to society in a positive way. It helps make them feel important and valued too.’

To register to walk, click here.

To volunteer at the Barossa walk, click here.

Just $26 helps a refugee child go to school by providing teachers, textbooks and tables. To donate to a specific walker or team, or to make a general gift to Walk My Way, click here.