Close to 100 people enjoyed a leisurely walk along the Lake Illawarra foreshore just before sunset on Thursday night to help mark International Women’s Day on March 8.
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The inaugural walk along the lake foreshore was initiated by Healthy Cities Illawarra which partnered with PCYC Lake Illawarra and Shellharbour City Council to stage the free non-competitive community event for International Women's Day to celebrate women from many different backgrounds and from all walks in life.
Healthy Cities Illawarra general manager Justin Placek said Healthy Cities had been involved in similar events around the globe.
So Mr Placek said the team in the Illawarra thought it would be a good idea to do something similar in the Wollongong and or Shellharbour local government area.
“It was initiated by Healthy Cities with the PCYC and then we got Shellharbour City Council on board as well and they were really supportive of it,” Mr Placek said.
Healthy Cities has been doing some work at the PCYC and lake foreshore for some time and we thought this was a chance to make the most of the opportunity down there. It's a great initiative I think.
- Justin Placek
“This is not so much a march. It is a social event to get people together to promote physical activity and social connection as well”.
“We were expecting around 100 people. Healthy Cities has been doing some work at the PCYC and lake foreshore for some time now and we thought this was a chance to make the most of the opportunity at the bike path down there”.
“It is a great initiative I think.”
Both the five kilometre and eight kilometre walks started and finished from PCYC Lake Illawarra.
Mr Placek said it was a great opportunity to reflect on the significance of International Women’s Day day with many friend and family groups.
Healthy Cities Illawarra health promotion officer Maddison Stratten said Healthy Cities Illawarra was a not for profit, non-government organisation which, through the IWD2018Walk, aimed to empower women, encourage healthy habits and inspire community connectedness.