IN THE NEWS Light It Up Blue

TO COMMEMORATE Autism Awareness Month, Jannie Brink School and Yonder held their annual “Light It Up Blue Walk” event on Saturday.

During this very successful event, participants from all walks of life participated in a 1km, 5km and 10km walk/run.

In total more than 200 athletes participated in the event - 116 in the 10km race, 96 in the 5km and 19 in the 1km.

Some of the Jannie Brink School pupils with autism also took part in the 1km walk.

The support from Run/Walk for Life and the monetary support from a number of sponsors from businesses in Kimberley contributed to the success of the day and the presence of other athletic clubs at the event was also highly appreciated by the organisers.

Yonder was mainly responsible for the food stalls.

To conclude the day, prizes were handed over and the lucky draw was done by pupils from the school with autism.

All the prizes were sponsored by the Yonder Groenmyn Nursery.

The 10km race was won by Frik Gys (men) and Francis Nel (women). The winners from Yonder were Maria Coetzee and Andrew Mokwena.

The success of the event has contributed towards the school’s plans to develop a sixth class for pupils with autism.

Education for pupils with autism is extremely expensive and there is also a big need for equipment and learning devices to provide effective and quality education to children that suffer from this lifelong complex developmental disorder.

– Danie Van der Lith