City embarks on global walk to end hunger

May 26, 2008

Zululand OBSERVER

	City embarks on global walk to end hunger Ronelle Ramsamy INTENT on ending hunger within the City of uMhlathuze, the locally based South African Food Bank is preparing for the 'End Hunger: Walk the World' event in Richards Bay. Taking place on Sunday, 1 November hundreds of people are expected to participate in the walk starting and ending at the Richards Bay Sports Complex in Veldenvlei. The City of uMhlathuze will join more than 770 000 people in over 90 countries across 24 time zones in putting the spotlight on hunger and showing how one collective footstep can transform the lives of the world's poorest children. Hosted by the South African Food Bank and its partner TNT Express World, the event is a global advocacy and fund-raising event for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) and is aimed at creating hunger awareness in line with the 2015-millennium goals. 'With its exceptional generosity in logistics and transport, as well as advocacy on behalf of the hungry, TNT has made an immeasurable contribution to WFP's fight against world hunger. 'This partnership is a brilliant example of the private sector putting its people, resources and expertise to work to ease the suffering of so many of our fellow human beings,' said SA Food Bank CEO, Brian Meneon. Raise Running for the sixth consecutive year, the objective of the event is to raise money for WFP's global school feeding project. The funds raised locally will be used by the SA Food Bank to reduce and finally eradicate child hunger through distribution of food resources free of charge through a network of local food pantries and rescue centres. 'In a world where politics and disaster spawn countless human tragedies which compete for attention, the silent plight of the hungry - especially children, the world's future - is an urgent call we must all answer. 'This walk is as important as it is inspiring to our mission to end hunger,' added Meneon. Participate The participation fee for the 'End Hunger: Walk the World' event in Richards Bay is R30 per adult, R20 for youngsters between the ages of six and 20 and no charge for children under six, with registration opening at 8.30am. To register for the walk, email info@sa-foodbank.org or contact Julian on 084 5813363, Jay 084 8124584 or Kimona on 073 6744184. The 'End Hunger: Walk the World' event aims to remind people of the fact that in a world producing more than enough food for everyone, some 18 000 children die every day of hunger. Another 300 million children suffer chronic hunger and 100 million do not attend school.