Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - November 16, 2008
Claire Keeton

Marathon champion Willie Mtolo, world karate champion Bradley Grant-Smith, world champion boxer Lehlohonolo Ledwaba and SA women's cricket vice-captain Daleen Terblanche are among 11 athletes joining the 1157km Sports Heroes Walk Against Aids this year.

The 7th Walk Against Aids, which starts tomorrow in Soweto and ends 15 days later in Kimberley on World Aids Day, will be accompanied for the first time by a mobile HIV-testing clinic.

The team will be conducting sports coaching clinics along the route as well as promoting HIV testing in the Right to Care clinic.

The other team members are former Banyana Banyana captain Desiree Ellis, national basketball captain Neo Mothiba, national netball team member Tsakane Mbewe, SABC sport presenter Cynthia Tshaka - who founded the project - and two representatives from the South African Association of People Living with Aids, Kenny Sebati and Buea Nkaeleng.

The walk aims to fight the HIV stigma and the spread of the virus, and raise money for HIV/Aids. The team members make donations to hospices and homes along the route.

Tshaka, nicknamed "the Iron Lady" for pushing team members along the walk, said: "The highlight for me always is the joy from the managers of the hospices and homes when they realise what we are able to do for them.

"They do not know they are getting money, or how much money, and their joy is outstanding."

The late Miriam Makeba's Home for Girls will be among those to benefit from the funds raised in 2008.

Since its launch in 2002, the walk has raised R5.5-million, which has been distributed in six provinces.

The walk takes place in a different province every year - this year it's the Northern Cape - and by 2010 all nine provinces will have benefited.

The ministry of sport and recreation is also involved in the event, giving sports equipment to towns through the sports clinics held along the route.

The minister of sport and recreation, Makhenkesi Stofile, said: "The Sport Heroes Walk is one way of contributing towards the fight against HIV and Aids. This walk comes at a time when our country is united in saying that enough is enough with regards to abuse in general, and against women, children, and people with disabilities in particular."

A walk veteran and former world flyweight champion, Baby Jake Matlala said it was exciting to meet youngsters along the way who were enthusiastic about boxing.

"There are a lot of them, especially in the townships, who want to learn how to box and start a club and I can advise them. It is a good idea, and there are athletes from cricket and rugby to help with their sports."

Matlala has done the relay walk - in which each athlete walks a minimum of 10km a day over the 16 days - five times, but this year has made way for "new blood".

At any time of the day there could be five athletes on the road at the same time, because the first will walk from designated point A to B, and the second covers from point B to C and so on.

Tshaka always takes part in the walk herself, because she is committed to lead by example.

She said that these sports role models had the potential to transform lives along the way.

"We are using sport as a tool for change. We have children approach us and ask us what to do about x, y and z. We can help them and change lives in some little town," she said.

The sports presenter added that their HIV education also made an impact. "We can encourage HIV testing and empower communities. .. No one should be dying of Aids in this day and age."

Major corporate sponsors of the Sports Heroes Walk Against Aids are Nike, Sasol, Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Xstrata.

Right to Care, an HIV/Aids treatment organisation, will be providing the mobile clinic for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV.

It cares for more than 110000 people in South Africa.

Right to Care's director, Dr Ian Sanne, said this initiative was an opportunity for people to find out their HIV status. Right to Care was one of the partners in a campaign last week to get more than 30000 people tested in five provinces.

Initial reports suggest the campaign, billed A Man Knows, exceeded its target. The Discovery Health and Sunday Times competition, Right to Know, was a partner in this drive.

# You could win R100000 if you enter the Right to Know competition. The only requirement to enter is that you take an HIV test with counselling and collect your results, which are confidential. Every month one person will be R100000 richer after a draw. The competition runs until August 2009 so get your entry in. For more information visit: http://www.righttoknow.co.za

081116
ST081105

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2008. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2008. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .