THE Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and youth movements from 24 zones jointly organised the MPAJ Walkathon 2014 to raise awareness of living a healthy lifestyle recently.
Called 10,000 Steps Towards A Healthy Selangor, about 700 people participated in the event.
The participants, aged 3 to 79, gathered at the Taman Melawati field at 7am to sweat it out with family, friends and neighbours.
They were flagged off by Hulu Kelang assemblyman Saari Sungib to cover a route of 5km around Taman Melawati, which starts and ends at the community field.
MPAJ Youth and Community Department director Khairil Azhar Ismail said: “Medical cost is rising. We hope that by organising such events, the public would practise a healthy lifestyle to keep non-communicable diseases at bay.
“Besides promoting a healthy lifestyle, the event also aims at forging ties among neighbours. The event serves as platform for Ampang folk and Melawati residents to mingle with one another.
“We want to make the sporting activity attractive for youths. So, we lined up many fun-filled activities such as the flying fox, wall climbing and Slackline.”
Khairil Azhar said there were no prizes given to winners but a lucky draw was held, with 40 prizes worth RM5,000 given away.
Ding Toh Wan, 64, a participant from Taman Ehsan, Kepong, said he and his friends participated in many walkathons and jogathons held nationwide.
“I am always on the lookout for any sporting activities. My friends and I have joined activities as far as in Sabah and we are planning to join one in Thailand,” he said.
Hajah Aishah Mohd Shah, 65, said this was her first time joining such an activity.
“I joined the event just to test my fitness level,” she said.