Walk to Tuk has helped an unprecedented number of NWT residents get active this winter. Over 4,700 people on 363 teams from 30 NWT communities have registered to participate in the event, a number that represents over 10 percent of the total population of the NWT, and about a seven percent increase from last year.
For Walk to Tuk, community members, schools, and workplaces form teams and conceptually walk the distance of the Big River from Fort Providence to Tuktoyaktuk for a total of 1,658 km between January 2nd and February 28th.
Walk to Tuk is the largest and longest physical activity event in the NWT. Over 22,200 participants have taken part in Walk to Tuk since the Challenge was started in 2010.
Executive Director, NWT Recreation and Parks Association Geoff Ray said that Walk to Tuk was created to help motivate people to stay active during the winter when it is dark and cold outside.
“We are very excited that so many people are taking part in this year’s Walk to Tuk challenge and committing to staying active this winter. We can’t wait to see how many teams make it to Tuk and beyond!”
For the past five years, challenge participants have for the most part exceeded the amount of exercise recommended by the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines according to the NWTRPA.
Two teams have already completed the walk, Dettah’s Seoti Drygeese team, who have walked 4,588 km as of Wednesday afternoon, and Yellowknife’s Mobile Maintenance Department of GK team, who have walked the required distance.
