It may have been a short walk, but 1km ended up going a long way for orthopaedic research fundraising in Dunedin yesterday.
The Joint Effort walk, held every two years, attracted about 100 participants, most of whom had undergone joint replacements or orthopaedic surgery, and the walk raised $6500.
Dunedin organising committee chairman Michael Chin said the aim of the event was to raise money for orthopaedic research in New Zealand.
All money went to the Wishbone Trust and most returned to fund research in the area it was raised.
Orthopaedic surgeons did not save many lives, but they did help people regain mobility, he said.
About 100 joint-replacement surgeries were undertaken in Otago each year, with hip and knee replacements the most common.
After having one knee replaced 17 years ago, and the other one year ago, Tony Clement travelled from Balclutha for the event, which was a "great experience".
"I just wanted to support the effort," he said.
He was also able to catch up with his original surgeon, Prof Jean-Claude Theis, who recognised him in the crowd.
