Following four successful editions of the Future Walk, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is preparing to host its fifth fundraising walkathon on Saturday, 28 September 2024. UJ Sport will, in 2024, be supported by Lucky Star Heartbeat Sessions with the similarity of purpose, in fostering a healthy agenda, making this a mutually beneficial partnership.
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.
Celebrity fitness personalities, including Connie Ferguson and King of Squats, will lead fun, interactive workout sessions for the UJ community on the 28th of September.
“This partnership which will be launched at the UJ Future Walk, also aligns perfectly with the values of the UJ Healthy Campus Programme and the Heart & Stroke Foundation. UJ recently attained platinum status in this prestigious FISU programme and the assistance of Lucky Star will be significant in growing our offering here.
The synergy between the two brands and their commitment to health and wellbeing made this mutually beneficial partnership possible, empowering both households and the university community,” said Lukas Nangolo, Creative Strategist at 27Ten Concepts, Lucky Star’s creative agency.
Promoting cardiovascular health with the Heart & Stroke Foundation
The Heart & Stroke Foundation promotes cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health through advocacy, policy influence, and providing information, tools, and support that:
- Empower people to adopt healthy lifestyles and seek appropriate care early in the disease process.
- Assist in making healthier choices more accessible.
The purpose and impact of the UJ Future Walk
The UJ Future Walk is more than just a fundraising event. It brings together students, staff, alumni, and the greater community to raise funds for UJ students who are unable to fully pay their tuition fees, particularly those in “The Missing Middle.”
Beyond promoting an active lifestyle, the event fosters a spirit of integration and diversity within the UJ community. Speaking at the May 2024 event, Ms. Nomsa Mahlangu, Senior Director of UJ Sport and Acting Senior Director of UJ Student Affairs, highlighted the event’s importance: “The UJ Future Walk is about creating an active student life, fostering a sense of community, and having fun together.”
Get Involved: Ticket Information and Prizes
Tickets for the 28 September event are available for purchase on the UJ Sport App and the UJ website. Staff and students from various UJ departments and faculties are encouraged to participate in teams. Prizes will be awarded for the “Largest Participating Team” and the “Best Performing Team,” along with various individual prizes on the day.
Building momentum and maintaining wellness
This year, the UJ Future Walk took a two-pronged approach with two events in the first and second semester. In May, Steps 2 UJ Future Walk saw enthusiastic participation from UJ Sport players, technical staff, university leadership, students, and faculty. This event was organised as a build-up to the main event on the 28th of September.
UJ Conditioning Coach, Pierre Bonthuys, who won the 8km run in May, said that the Steps 2 Future Walk event this year left a positive impression on many of the participants. “This was a fantastic event! I especially enjoyed the challenging hills. The best part was seeing everyone from different sports clubs and departments come together. We need to maintain this momentum and continue training for the main event in September.”
To date, the UJ Future Walk has raised over R2 million since its inception in 2015 following the student calls for assistance with paying their tuition fees.
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