A group of persons, from across Anguilla, has undertaken to walk to various parts of the island for the fun and health benefits it provides.
They have walked from Falcon Nest, on the Island Harbour Bayside, to West End, close to the length of the island. Their journey began at 3.30 am on August Thursday and the first four walkers got to West End at about 7.05-7.08 am – a little over three and a half hours.
One of the main walkers was Janet Bryson Morancie. “We don’t have a name as yet but I have something in mind which I really don’t want to expose now,” she said on Monday, August 10, during a visit to the office of The Anguillian newspaper. “The purpose of the walk was just a challenge. We walk basically every day of the week, and on Saturdays we walk from the Ronald Webster Park around Mango Garden around in Chalvilles and back to the park.
Janet Bryson-Morancie 
“Over the past holidays, we challenged ourselves from The Valley to West End; then from The Valley to Island Harbour down to Shoal Bay and back. The walk to West End took us basically two hours and fifteen minutes and the one to Island Harbour lasted for some two hours plus. During the week we met around 3.30 in the morning and set normal routes which would be just over three miles or six miles.”
Mrs. Bryson Morancie was accompanied to The Anguillian newspaper by the well-known South Valley community leader, Basil Reid. “It is not just about walking. It is more like a family we have,” he commented. “People who see us walking so early must be saying those are crazy people to be getting up at that time to walk. But it is fun because you see the results afterwards. That is the most important thing because it is healthy and makes you feel good. We are looking for others to come on board but not just to come and fall out tomorrow. It is about health.”
Mrs. Morancie chipped in: “And you have to be a lover of walking.” She continued: “I love walking and exercising. I actually took it seriously during the coronavirus situation. I was quarantined after returning from England. I came back on March 14… During my quarantine in Anguilla, I told the persons in charge that I would abide with the rules but I don’t want them to stop me from exercising. They told me I can’t go to the gym, but they wouldn’t mind if I walk.
“I would wait for the sun to rise and go home to the White Hill, Island Harbour and back to the place of quarantine. If not, I would walk from home down to Shoal Bay and back or around Mango Garden. So I did not have any contact or communication with anyone. From there walking became a usual practice. I spoke to Basil and we would get up early in the morning to walk with the other persons taking the challenge.”
Her message to members of the public is that: “You don’t have to live in a gym. You can form walking groups and hit the streets – and once you are walking three to five miles a day, it is very effective, and you will be healthy without going to a gym.”
The membership of the entire group comprises Janet Bryson-Morancie (founder), Ron Webster, Lisa Webster, Kris Webster, Rosetta Reid, Basil Reid and Juliana Abraham-Duncan who are all in the accompanying photograph. Those who have walked with the group, but are not in the photograph, are Julius David, Kharel Saunders-Carty, Crescha Walters and Bob Somers.
The group’s walking theme is: “Challenge makes us Resilient.”
