The 2024 University of Johannesburg (UJ) Future Walk, co-hosted by Lucky Star has since its inception, raised over R2 million to support underprivileged and academically deserving students. In addition, this year the walkathon, that took place on Saturday 28 September 2024 at the UJ Bunting Road Campus attracted over 500 participants and raised more than R400 000.
This annual event aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise funds for UJ students, and foster a sense of community.
This was the fifth edition of the Future Walk, featuring sponsors such as Lucky Star and the Heart and Stroke Foundation through 27Ten Concepts, Aquelle, and SABC Sport. UJ Sport and the Lucky Star Heartbeat Sessions share a similar purpose in fostering a healthy agenda, making the Walk a mutually beneficial partnership.
A day of fitness and fun
The Future Walk featured a variety of activities, including a 2.5km, 5km, or 8km walk/run, followed by energising aerobics sessions led by fitness icons Ms. Connie Ferguson and King of Squats. Participants of all ages enjoyed the scenic campus routes, and the lively atmosphere created by the UJ Sport team and Lucky Star Heartbeat Sessions.
Participants started off the day with warm-ups run by the Virgin Active fitness instructors, followed by the three different distance walks on the Bunting Road Campus. Post the walks, participants enjoyed robust aerobics classes with Ferguson, King of Squats, Soweto Gym instructors who work with Lucky Star’s Heartbeat Sessions.
The Lucky Star Heartbeat Sessions, fully supported by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, are designed to promote healthy living through physical exercise, with a special focus on preventing heart disease in underserved communities.
Speaking about the exercise sessions, Ms. Ferguson said, “I thank UJ and Lucky Star for the opportunity to be part of this experience with the UJ community. I enjoyed the walk, the trail was interesting especially with the steeps and down hills.”
Speaking on the importance of consistency in wellness, she said, “A lot of people suffer mental health issues due to work and studies, so being active helps a great deal. I’m here to encourage students and the adults participating in the event to be active, while also helping the institution raise funds for deserving students.”
Ms Ferguson said that the best way to get rid of stress is being active in sporting activities and joining a community of people who take wellness seriously. “It is something to be commanded, that people managed to get up early in the morning to be part of the UJ Future Walk on a Saturday,” said Ms Ferguson, after walking 6.8km.
Reflecting on the event and the turnout, the UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, commended the participants who joined the walk. “The weather was perfect, the turnout and the number of sponsors who supported the UJ Future Walk were greater than the past. Good health is wealth, and we are here for exactly that – to work on our wellness, interact with students and colleagues, as we raise funds for our students who do well academically, but can’t pay full tuition fees. It is for a good cause.”
Prof Mpedi added, “The Future Walk is a great initiative, and it can grow with the number of participants, sponsors, and the turnout. Going forward, we need to look at having the activations at least every quarter before the main event later in the year. Bigger and better is where we need to take it.”
Speaking after running and winning the 5km, Lukas Nangolo, Creative Strategist at 27Ten Concepts, Lucky Star’s creative agency, said “I feel super excited that this was a successful event. I won the 5km run and I’m ecstatic – I enjoyed the experience with the participants. Lucky Star is a people’s brand and we need to bring it to the people. We are trying to build a healthy society that eats and leads healthy lifestyles, so, it was important for us to be part of this initiative, and we wish to take it further with UJ in the coming year with other programmes.”
There were academic and support staff, students, members of the UJ Management Executive Committee and residents from various parts of Johannesburg participating in the 2.5km, 5km and 8km.
Parents also brought their babies and toddlers to the event, with the young ones enjoying jumping castles and doing the nappy dash races.
