More than 300 children and adults with disabilities walked on Monday morning to participate in a “walk marathon” organised by the Lions Club.
Arriving around 9 a.m. in their school buses, children from Chetana Bala Vikas Kendra and Suratkal Lions School joined their counterparts in the walk which started from St. Agnes Special School.
Lions District Governor Kishore Rao said that the walk had been organised to celebrate the birthday of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of the former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Ms. Kennedy was the force behind the setting up of the Special Olympics in 1968.
They walked down the road in front of St. Agnes College and returned to the Special School. Mr. Rao said the walk had been organised to “create awareness” about people with disabilities. He said special children should also be recognised for the contribution they can make if they are given the opportunity.
Valencia Lions Club president Leslie D'Souza told presspersons that although the children found it difficult to come at 9.30 a.m., the walk had been organised at that time in order to avoid the sun.
