The Bay to Bay is

Water points are an essential part of any road race, whether they provide water in sachets or an energising drink in a cup. Unfortunately runners have acquired a reputation for littering when they have finished their drink: empty sachets get thrown into the bush or cups just get dropped on the road. The clean-up team then have the thankless task of finding all these discards before winds distribute them far and wide.

These actions of runners are probably not deliberate attempts to pollute the countryside, but rather unthinking actions following on years of doing the same thing. Putting up more bins and requests to runners to use them have fallen on deaf ears.

This has led to a more aggressive ‘going green’ initiative, first used during the Friendly City marathon in January. Prominent boards were set up 1 km beyond each water point with the words: No dropping of sachets or litter beyond this point. This system worked well, and may in future also lead to fines for runners disregarding the instructions. Of course, it is also a tremendous help for the clean-up team.

The Bay to Bay event is fully committed to this ‘going green’ initiative, and requests all runners and walkers to abide by the instructions. Let’s keep our country clean!

Another bus of Algoa Bus Company's stable, the Hakuna Matata - affectionally known as 'Tata' - is the official mascot bus for the Scout Charity Walk. 

'Tata' will drive with the walkers from start to finish, enjoy a coffee break at the 2 foodstop during the night, and eventually 'race' the first walker or team of walkers to the finish line.

Tata will have a VIP passenger on board - Scout Walk Care Bear - to cheer on the walkers all the way and make sure everyone will enjoy the ultimate "Don't worry, be happy" happening in Nelson Mandela Bay.

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