In Gargždai, 278 hikers covered 11 kilometers freely

As many as 278 hikers invited by the informal group “Gargždų turistai” of the Gargždų children and youth leisure center marched 11 kilometers on the occasion of Lithuania’s restored independence day.
Skaidra Karalienė, director of the Gargžda Children’s and Youth Leisure Center, is happy that the Municipality-supported project “March for Freedom” has been gathering a large group of fans of what has become a traditional march for the first year.
“When registering, we asked the participants for the name of the team, so there were those who gathered larger groups and formed teams, and there were also single hikers or travelers in pairs. Many teams were young tourists “Turizmas”, sports club “Kuršiai”, Children’s day center of Gargžda social services center, Gargžda health care center, schoolchildren also participated, and the biggest team was from “Minijas” pro-gymnasium 6e. The largest teams formed not from institutions, but from the hikers themselves, were surprised by the creative names – “Nerealieji” and “Geese gang in the pasture”, – Jūratė Jocienė, deputy director of the Gargžda Children and Youth Leisure Center, informed “Banga”.
Klaipėda District Municipality Mayor Bronius Markauskas and Klaipėda District Municipality Education, Culture and Sports Committee Chairperson dr. Loreta Piaulokaitė-Motuzienė. Ernestas Bukauskas, the head of the informal group “Gargždų turistai” thanked all the supporters of the traditional hike and was happy that the civic young generation of hikers is growing, able to attract not only young people, but also people of various ages to the hike.
The 11-kilometer walk was helped by their pets, and new acquaintances were made at the rest stops over a cup of tea. “Next year, don’t forget: March 11 at 11 a.m. we gather again for the 11 km march”, invite the organizers of the civil action – the initiators of the “Let’s march for freedom” project.
Vilija BUTKUVIENĖ
Photo by A. VALAIČIOS.