Emma Daken expected into Bluff on Friday to become youngest Kiwi to walk the length of NZ

Tall striding Wellington student Emma Daken is on schedule to stride into Bluff on Friday to become the youngest Kiwi to walk the length of NZ – for cystic fibrosis research.

 

The remarkable determined Daken left Cape Reinga tired on the morning of November 1. She had hurriedly finished Victoria University political science exams in Wellington the day before and fled to the aiport to rush by planes and cars to the Cape to begin her 2200km and 70 day journey to Bluff.

 

Four pairs of shoes later she is expected to reach Stirling Point at Bluff just before 3pm this Friday.

Daken turned 20 on the walk and is still suffering painful shin splints as well as experiencing blisters, a virus and back pain along the way.

 

``I’m feeling great though. Every step I feel closer to the end. It’s been an overwhelming experience to raise more than $28,000 for cystic fibrosis research where they are doing some exciting things in Australia in search of a cure for this condition,’’ Daken said on a quiet Southland road this morning.

 

``I haven’t done this for myself but just to raise some money and meet some wonderful people along the way. I’ll never forget it. I couldn’t have managed this walk without Jucy, the one car and camper rental company that offered us everything at the start.

 

``I think of my friends who have cystic fibrosis. I now have a holiday before going back to uni in February but they continue suffer from the condition. Still I can;t wait to get back home to family and friends. It’s been a breathtaking journey.’’

 

Daken gave up much of her Victoria University holiday break so she could complete the arduous walk – and has been walking marathon distances most days.

 

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 created a fundraising page - http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/EmmaDaken08/ so the public could follow her walking journey to Bluff.