Disco Bay wakes to laughter as families take charity hike

Strollers get right of way in creche's third sponsored walk

Discovery Bay folk woke on Saturday to chirping birds and the laughter of babies and children wearing bright Christmas-red T-shirts, up early for a special walk.

As police officers halted the odd golf cart to make way for a column of strollers and tiny scooters, the 500-strong baby brigade progressed through the hilly streets of the bay.

It was the Third Discovery Mind Kindergarten charity walk to raise funds for Operation Santa Claus, which saw some 160 children of kindergarten age, siblings, parents and friends pitch in for the poor.

The toddlers were mostly wide awake by the time the walk began at 9am. Bus No7 was full of children being fed bottles of milk or drinking yoghurt drinks and downing cookies.

The leisurely two-hour, 4km walk, with breaks every 15 minutes, ended at Siena Park. At the finish line by the park's entrance, the children were still laughing and running, poking fun at Jan the clown and giving high-fives when they crossed. They then plopped down on the grass to be entertained by Jan. Others ran straight for the swings and slides. The not-so-fit adults paused to catch their breath.

Jane Wilson, spokeswoman for the walk, said: 'The previous two years we've had fantastic results, hopefully we can equal that this year. It's just the right distance for the little ones,' she said.