Amputee William France hosted his fifth fitness for life walkathon yesterday from the Two Brothers Gas Station at Eccles to the Mocha Road Head on the East Bank Demerara.
Being the original founder of the event, France proudly commended and encouraged all of his supporters and participants.
He added that he did not get the ‘turn out’ that he expected but was thankful for those who came out to participate.
“What is pain in the body when there is hope in the heart?” was the question that France proposed to the participants.
Two of the participants collect their prizes after the event.
He noted that he ‘must’ do more intense training in order to cop the first prize in New York later this year for the oldest amputee in the world to compete in marathons. Subsequently, France stated thathe will be extending his usual exercise so instead of walking from home (Mocha Housing Scheme) to the Demerara Harbour Bridge; he will be walking from home to the Two Brothers Gas Station at Eccles.
In the absence of the Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, who is a usual supporter of France’s walkathons, the latter and his officials took the time to acknowledge the PM and thank him for donating trophies to be distributed to the various winners.
Among the prizes distributed were that of the first (open) person to complete the race, the first female, the youngest person to complete, the first person with disability, the oldest participant, the first male over 50 years old and other special prizes.
There are plans to make the event bigger and better next year. (Trevona Weekes)