SRAZ five-kilometre fun walk set for Africa Day

THE Bulawayo edition of Squash Rackets Association of Zimbabwe’s (SRAZ) five-kilometre fun walk to raise funds for junior players as well as raise awareness against drugs and substance abuse has been set.

The event will take place on Africa Day, May 25 at the Suburbs Squash Club. The walk will start and end at the squash facility.

Funds raised during the walk that will spread the fight against the abuse of drugs and substances, will be channelled towards assisting Zimbabwe junior squash players participating at regional and international competitions.

Junior players are scheduled to compete at a South African tournament next month before travelling for the World Junior Championships set for Australia in July.

Running under the theme: “Say No to Drugs,” other activities that are lined up for the day apart from the walk include speeches on drug and substance abuse from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS), and Rechabites Trust among many others.

SRAZ Chairperson, Lucky Mlilo said: “Today’s generation has become obsessed with following whatever is new or trending in the world, thus the rise in drug abuse.

Drug abuse has become the most common thing these days with many youths and adults destroying their lives by getting addicted to drugs and as SRAZ, we’ve found it imperative to educate youths and adults on the adverse impact of the abuse of drugs and substances.”

After the walk in Bulawayo some awareness campaigns will take place during the Zimbabwe Open Squash tournament in August, Matabeleland South Squash competition set for Falcon College in September and in Kwekwe during a club tournament to be held in October.

As part of the sport’s awareness campaigns, which will take part across the country, there will be an awareness webinar in June with the host being Rodney Swigelaar, Director of Africa office of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Two more webinars in November and December will round up the events lined up for the year.
Participation fee for the upcoming walk has been pegged at US$5 for adults and US$3 for children.

To have a stall during the event, one will have to fork out US$20.

Fun walk route: From Suburbs Squash Club in Pauling Road, turn right into Seventh Avenue Extension, past Kumalo Hockey Stadium, turn right into George Avenue, right into Leopold Takawira at the traffic lights, proceed as if going to the City Centre, turn right into Park Road, then turn right into Seventh Avenue and proceed until you turn right into Pauling Road. Proceed back to Suburbs Squash Club to finish your walk. — @brandon_malvin