Round-the-world walker set to depart from Bluff

Media release

8th October 2010                         Number of pages: 2

Round-the-world walker set to depart from Bluff

– with support crew fueled by Biogold biodiesel

Canadian Jean Beliveau will begin the New Zealand leg of his round-the-world walk when he departs from Bluff at 10am on Monday 11 October, with a support vehicle sponsored by Kea and running on Biogold biodiesel.  He will start from the sign in Bluff that points to all corners of the globe.

Jean left his home 10 years ago to walk around the world in support of the UNESCO international decade (2001-2010) for peace and non-violence for children.  (Editors: see bio notes below) 

As he walks, Jean is collecting donations for Barnardos New Zealand.  Barnardos has been providing services to New Zealand families for 40 years.  It is a respected provider of care, education and support services for families. 

Barnardos Chief Executive Murray Edridge said, “We hope New Zealanders will join with us in celebrating the phenomenal feat Jean is undertaking.  People are welcome to walk some of the distance with Jean, invite him to visit their school or service club, offer him accommodation, and make donations. 

“Already, Jean has received some amazing support from companies such as Kea, Air New Zealand, Telecom-Gen-I, and Biodiesel New Zealand, which is helping ensure minimum environmental impact by providing its Biogold NZ100 pure biodiesel for the support vehicle that will travel through New Zealand with Jean.

“In total, Jean will walk an incredible 75,000kms and he is crossing 64 countries.  His walk is a reminder to all New Zealanders that creating a culture of peace and non-violence for children is worth striving for, and it is a global effort,” he concluded. 

New Zealand is the last country before Jean Beliveau returns to Canada in early 2011.  He has been through 48 pairs of shoes, stayed in thousands of different homes, eaten amazing things, and met incredible people. 

ends
 

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