CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle Sponsored Walk on 10 October 2009 attracted over 80 people, marching to celebrate World Mental Health Day and raise money for CoolTan Arts.

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Walkers were welcomed by Michelle Baharier, Chief Executive of CoolTan Arts, the Mayor of Lambeth, Christopher Wellbelove, past mayor of Southwark Bob Skelly, London Assembly member and deputy chief of Transport Valerie Shawcross and TV Chef Rosemary Shrager. All the speakers highlighted the importance of art and walking on everyone’s mental health and well being, the social element of a community walk and how it can help people overcome barriers and stigma.

Everyone who completed the whole walk celebrated their achievements with home-made cakes, performances by actress Julie McNamara, poetry by Peter Cox, Phil Ruthen, Maggie Sullivan and a raffle drawn by Rosemary Shrager.

David Morris, Disability Advisor to the Mayor seconded to the London Olympic Organising team until 2012, and great supporter of CoolTan Arts, joined the walkers at Tate Modern and called CoolTan Arts Largactyl Shuffle as a “great example of how we celebrate diversity” and hopes that CoolTan Arts’ Sponsored Walk in 2012 will be the biggest Largactyl Shuffle ever with thousands of people celebrating diversity.

Sanae El-Mahboub, CoolTan Arts volunteer, says about the walk: I loved the sponsored walk this morning it was GREAT! I really enjoyed myself, I liked the talks about all the history of the various places we passed, the fantastic poetry that was read and I am really looking forward to the next one.

CoolTan Arts is grateful to all the walkers that joined this year, the support it received and want to thank all the walkers and volunteers that helped to make an unforgettable event.

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