Teenager to reach first major milestone tomorrow

Media release – November 11, 2008

Determined Emma Daken expected to reach first major milestone tomorrow

Determined teenager Emma Daken is expected to stride up Queens St in Auckland tomorrow to reach her first major milestone tomorrow in an attempt to set a record as the youngest Kiwi to walk the length of NZ – for Cystic Fibrosis research.

Daken is scheduled to walk up Queen Street some time after 7.30am tomorrow morning. It will have taken her 12 days to complete the first 454km leg of her 2200km journey to the Bluff.

She has been troubled by a stomach virus, blisters and possibility of losing some toenails since leaving Cape Reinga on November 1.

``I spent last night in Sandspit, near Warkworth, and it was a big day yesterday with a powhiri in Te Hana and Push Play co-ordinator Julie Knott helped a lot and walked with me through Wellsford,’’ Daken said today.

``I can’t wait to get to Auckland tomorrow. It will be a great feeling walking up Queens St and along the footpaths of Auckland.’’

The Victoria University student is walking the 2200km 70 day walk to raise awareness and research funds for cystic fibrosis. She is scheduled to arrive in Bluff on January 9.

Daken has given up all her Victoria University holiday break so she can complete the arduous walk - which will be like walking a marathon most days.

Jucy Rentals is sponsoring Daken on her walk with a campa vehicle and a car for the whole 70 day journey. She has completed her second year of study at Victoria. Her inspiration for selecting the charity was from her contact with a very close friend who suffers from the illness. Her driver on the walk also has cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis is NZ's most common life-threatening inherited disease and the Cystic Fibrosis Association is the only national organisation dedicated to all aspects of the condition.

Emma will be visiting many of NZ's large and small towns on her walk and she hopes to get a lot of local support for her campaign. She has created a fundraising page - http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/EmmaDaken08/ so the public can follow her walking progress.

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