Organisers are hopeful scores of people will turn out for this weekend’s Poppy Day Lest We Forget Memorial Run or Walk in the Ashburton Domain.
The pre-Anzac Day walk/run, organised by Rotary International members, takes place in the domain grounds, starting from the Walnut Avenue pavilion on Sunday from 9.30am.
It is on wet or fine.
Rotary’s Gary Whiting said the annual event takes place around a flat, one kilometre circuit around the sports area of the domain. People can walk or run as little, or as much of the circuit, as they want – up to 5km.
It has been running for the past 10 years, except for the last couple due to covid, and usually on Anzac Day.
Mr Whiting said with Easter and school holidays during April, organisers -with backing from the Ashburton RSA – made the decision to hold afun, pre-Anzac Day event ahead of the school holidays instead of the afternoon of Anzac Day. In the past around 100 to130 people have attended.
It costs $10 per adult to enter and $3 for students and children, and includes a poppy and a sausage sizzle.
There is no prize for first or any spot prizes, it’s a memorial walk, Mr Whiting said.
All proceeds raised on the day go to the Ashburton RSA Poppy Fund.
The domain route includes a section where white crosses are placed. They not only mark the route but are a reminder of why people have gathered.
There will also be a short story or poem at the beginning, and piper Iain Inglis will start the event. Dogs to be on a lead.
