Kota Kinabalu : Calling families to take part in the 1Malaysia Family Walk on Nov 21 (Saturday) starting at 7am from the grounds of Wisma Wanita and back to the same venue at Mile 3Ã, Jalan Tuaran, here.
Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS) Chairperson, Datuk Asnimar Sukardi, said all families from far and near are welcome to participate in the event which is part of the month-long State-level Women's Day celebration.
"Activities which bring families together are ways to cement family bonding and strengthen the family institution. There will be a fun-filled bazaar in the vicinity of Wisma Wanita to add to the revelry," she said.
Banners on the event have been put up near Wisma Wanita and Karamunsing. The event is also being publicised via the quiz at Sabah FM.
Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, will flag off the family walk after receiving the Malaysian and State Flags from two veteran lady walkers - Elizabeth Maurice and Clarice Mojigoh - who will walk all the way from Tambunan and reach Wisma Wanita by 7am.
Asnimar, who is Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Community Development and Consumer Affairs, said Elizabeth, who works at the Fifth Brigade Camp, Lok Kawi, and Clarice, a nurse, offered to play a role in the family walk.
Logistics for their trip to Tambunan and the walk from Tambunan to the State capital will be taken care of by military vehicles. The duo will be escorted by police.
Based on their schedule, Elizabeth and Clarice will leave Donggongon, Penampang for Tambunan at 4pm on Nov 19 (Thursday) and arrive at the Tambunan Resthouse after one-and-a-half hours.
The ladies will stay overnight at the resthouse before setting off on the next course of their journey from the Tambunan District Office at 4am on Nov 20 (Friday). They are scheduled to reach the Pogunon Homestay at midnight. Next morning (Nov 21, Saturday), the walkers will resume their walk from the Pogunon Homestay at 4am in the hope of reaching Wisma Wanita, KK by 7am to hand over the National and State Flags to Azizah.
Last year, Eizabeth did solo walking from Lawas, Sarawak to Kota Kinabalu, while Clarice accomplished her solo walk from Ranau to Penampang earlier this year. Both participated in the recent Borneo International Marathon 2009.
For Elizabeth, her experience in marathon walk dates back to 2004 when she walked from Ranau to Sandakan with walking partner Kathy Pidung from Penampang.
Meanwhile, organising chairperson Mariati Robert said MPWS has the support of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and the Federal Youth and Sports Department in organising the event.
"Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim said DBKK enforcement personnel will ensure that it is a litter-free event by providing dustbins at the venue. We are also grateful to the Police who will help out with the traffic flow," she said.
According to Mariati, the Federal Youth and Sports Department will conduct a senamrobic activity (aerobic exercise) for all participants before the walk starts.
Meanwhile, a notebook is in store for the first prize winner of a lucky draw for participants who complete the walk.
The second and third prizes are mountain bikes.
Twenty-seven hampers are consolation prizes sponsored by the Yayasan Sabah Group. There is also a contribution from Nestle.
