Daken strides into Wellington to end NI leg

Media release – December 8, 2008

Emma Daken strides into Wellington to end NI leg of her journey in quest to set record as youngest Kiwi to walk the length of NZ – for Cystic Fibrosis research

Determined Wellington student Emma Daken was scheduled to stride into home town Wellington today to end the North Island leg of her journey in quest to set record as youngest Kiwi to walk the length of NZ – for Cystic Fibrosis research

Daken left Paekakariki this morning and was expected to reach the steps of Parliament around 4pm.

``I am feeling really good other than a sore shin which I have had for a few weeks but it’s nothing major. It will be a great feeling waling up to Parliament having covered 1200km since leaving Cape Reinga on November 1,’’ Daken said today.

She is well into her second pair of shoes; has had her 20th birthday on the road and overcome early blisters, a virus and a back ache to reach Wellington in fine shape.

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. Tomorrow she ferries to Picton and will rest tomorrow night at Riverlands, south of Blenheim.

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 condition. Her driver on the walk also has cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis is NZ's most common life-threatening inherited condition 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.

ENDS

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