Johannesburg — Residents of Johannesburg have been invited to join South Africa's sporting heroes for the first 10km of the Walk Against AIDS campaign on Monday.

World boxing champions Baby Jake Matlala and Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, marathon runner Willie Mtolo, former Springbok wing Khaya Malotana, former Banyana Banyana captain Desree Ellis and fellow footballers Veronica Phewa and Janine van Wyk, karate champion Artulu Ballosini, cricketer Daleen Terblanche, and SABC sports presenter Cynthia Tshaka will make up the team to walk all the way to from Soweto to Kimberly in the Northern Cape.

The Sport Heroes Walk Against AIDS, which was initiated in 2002 by Ms Tshaka, is a non-profit organisation made up of sports players who want to get involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS, reports Joburg.org.

"The main objective of this campaign is to use sport as a tool to change people's lives and to raise funds to support those who are infected and affected," said Ms Tshaka. To date the project has raised a total of R5 million which has been divided between various hospices in the country.

Funds are raised throughout the year from corporate South Africa and Sport South Africa. Ms Tshaka said the heroes have held walks and sporting clinics in different sporting codes in all nine provinces to encourage the youth to engage in sports.

"During these activities, mobile testing stations are available for those who are willing to be tested. "We also identify needy AIDS hospices or homes with the help of local government and supply them with the necessary tools and equipment they need to fight the epidemic.

"They do not receive assistance in the form of money but we purchase what they need on their behalf," she said.