Walk for Sight and sound

Walk for Sight and Sound in Penang attracts 2,500
By HAFIZ MARZUKHI
hafiz@thestar.com.my


GEORGE TOWN: To understand how the blind and deaf live, one needs to be put in the same situation.

That is why more than 2,500 people took part in the annual “Walk For Sight & Sound 2011” at the Penang Municipal Park yesterday.

Led by the St George's Girls School band, many of the participants walked blindfolded and with ear plugs alongside the visually and hearing impaired while being guided by friends who served as their “eyes and ears”.

Organising chairperson Christina Choong said the event was aimed at letting people experience the daily difficulties faced by the visually and hearing impaired.


Dark and silent world: Participants of the Walk For Sight & Sound 2011 in Penang walking blindfolded and with ear plugs so that they can experience how the blind and deaf move about. They were also guided by their friends who served as their ‘eyes and ears’ Sunday. — LIM BENG TATT / The Star
She said the event raised about RM100,000, which would be donated to the St Nicholas Home and Penang Deaf Association.

State Youth, Sports, Women Family and Community Develop-ment chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi flagged off the walk at 8am.

Ong said that the organisers added the deaf category in a bid to do something different from previous editions at Padang Polo.

The 3.8km walk to the Penang Botanic Gardens and back was jointly organised by the Lions Club Georgetown Perdana, Penang Municipal Council and Penang State Sports Council.