Club runs walking challenge to raise funds for fight against diabetes

The Toko & Districts Lions Club are encouraging people to lap the map of New Zealand to raise awareness and funds for diabetes.

November is World Diabetes Month, and to support those with diabetes, Lions Club New Zealand has set down a challenge for people to walk the combined distance of New Zealand’s coastline.

Toko & Districts Lions Club secretary Pam Macdonald says the club has organised a fundraiser event for November 13 to help contribute to the nationwide fundraiser.

“With this fundraiser, Lions aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, but also raise funds and awareness about diabetes. Diabetes New Zealand has said the country has a serious and growing Type 2 diabetes problem. It is predicted that within the next 20 years, the number of people with Type 2 diabetes will increase by 70 — 90 per cent. We want to raise awareness of this and to promote ways people can be healthy.”

The club has set up a course from Huinga Hall, Toko, through the Huinga tunnel along the clay road. She says the course has three distances to accommodate people’s abilities and can be done at any pace. The event starts at 10am. “People can walk or run the course. There is a 3.5km course, a 7km course and an 8.2km course. There are plenty of banks where people can take a rest, and the courses have a lot of scenic views of the countryside. It’s a beautiful walk, and we advise people to wear shoes.”

A free barbecue will follow the event.

Pascoe Wells (16), left, Arlo Wells (13) and Zac Stewart (13) in the Huinga tunnel.