Walkers go green for palliative care

2016-06-29 06:00:00

More than 1,500 people donned green T-shirts on Sunday to take part in the annual Walkathon, raising more than 30,000 euros to support Cudeca’s palliative care programmes for sufferers of terminal illnesses.
The first walkers to set off from the event’s ‘base camp’ on the seafront outside Sunset Beach in Benalmádena Costa were those tackling the ten kilometre route, which took them first west to Playa Bonita and then east to Puerto Marina and back again. The number of green shirts moving along the seafront multiplied later when the five-kilometre and two-kilometre walkers joined in.
“Walk on,“ was the instruction given out by singer Mel Williams, who, as in previous years, performed ‘You’ll never walk alone’ as the participants of all ages and nationalities set off, not before an essential warm-up session under the guidance of one of Cudeca’s physiotherapists, Carolina Martín.
Before they set off, supporters were welcomed by Cudeca’s finance director Rafael Olalla, who thanked principal sponsors, Obra Social ‘La Caixa’, and Benalmádena town hall for making the event possible. The mayor of Benalmádena, Víctor Navas, and council officials attended the activities along with Cudeca’s general manager and medical director, Marisa Martín
Eighty volunteers were on hand throughout the morning to take care of everything from registration to paella-making while Cudeca fundraiser Carlos White introduced a full line-up of entertainers, who kept the festive atmosphere going as walkers arrived back at Sunset Beach. The performers reflected the international character of the Costa del Sol and ranged from the oriental dance group Naima to the Peña Unión del Cante Rociero choir, R-Jay, Motown R&B, DJ Buyo and Consuelo Lallay.
Prizes were awarded to the largest walking team, the 45-strong Ejército Rojas from Fuengirola. The second most numerous team was made up of 23 representatives from Club La Costa. Gifts were also handed out to the biggest fundraisers, Bentle and Kim Gottlieb, who raised more than 2,700 euros, and the Soroptimists team and Chris Knapp, who collected 1,240 and 750 euros respectively.
Supporters can still donate to the Walkathon fund at www.cudeca-events.org or via La Caixa ES48 2100 7681 3523 00060031.source surinenglish