There’s a friendly group of people in east Auckland who gather several times a week to exercise and socialise and they’re providing a vital community service.
The Pakuranga Joggers and Walkers Club is a sub-branch of Pakuranga Athletic Club.
Its keen members meet at their clubroom in Lloyd Elsmore Park, accessed off Cascades Road, every Tuesday and Thursday at 8.30am, with their walks starting at 9am.
The group is after new members and people are welcome to go along and try it out.
Co-ordinator Rosalea Dun says when she took over the role she was taken by surprise when one of the members told her that if they didn’t have the group to go to, they wouldn’t see or talk to anyone.
“We like to think we’re a community,” Dun told the Times.
“The club is always open regardless of the weather or what’s on.
“Sometimes when it’s really wet people will just come for a coffee.”
At each session the group’s members gather before breaking up into smaller groups and heading out on their walks.
Some may do just a couple of laps of the nearby athletics track while others walk for an hour or 90 minutes around the local area, Dun says.
“An hour is the average. We have a fast group. They go at 8.45am and do 10km or 12km.
“They go all over the area. Our fast group are all walkers.
“We only have three or four joggers now, so most are walkers.”
People don’t have to be fit or in great health to get involved as the group caters to everyone.
Members also don’t have to participate in every walk, Dun says.
“We have a casual membership of $5 per time or they can join for $70 for $12 months and pay $3 each time they come. That covers our morning tea costs.”
Among the group’s long-standing members is local resident Terry Mitchell, who says he appreciates the regularity of the group’s meetups.
“It forces you every Tuesday and Thursday, ‘I’ve got to do my exercise’.
“Whereas you sit at home and think, ‘bugger it, I won’t do it today’.
“You come down to meet up with everybody. They do whatever distance is suitable.
“They get into a group that suits them and stick together and go as far as they want.
“Then they come back for a coffee or a cup of tea and a biscuit.”
People interested in getting involved can phone Rosalea Dun on 021 041 4074 or email roseandjimdun@icloud.com.
