They’re Heading Your Way, Blisters And All!

For immediate release 10 October 2007

They’re Heading Your Way, Blisters And All!

Their feet are sore, their muscles are aching but this hasn’t stopped Alice Smith, Dennis Behan and Lane Schaffer from giving up on their 5 month journey to hike the length of New Zealand in support of Project K.

Setting off on their hike from Cape Reinga on September 22 the group has now reached Waipu and are making their way down the east coast through Mangawhai Heads and Orewa to Auckland, arriving in approximately 8 days.

Project K founded by Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson is a unique youth development programme that uses the wilderness, local community and one-on-one mentoring to teach and inspire teens to reach their full potential.

Alice, Dennis and Lane chose Project K as a recipient because the programme shares their passion for the outdoors and they encourage the public to visit their website www.nzunderfoot.com and make a donation towards the programme.

Along the way the group have experienced an over whelming amount of positive response and have thoroughly enjoyed the kindness and generosity of the public.

Alice says “We have had offers of places to stay, cars pulling over offering us lifts and promises of not telling anyone if we take the lift.

It’s blown as away. If your faith in humanity ever falters, put a big pack on your back and go walking round this country, it will be fully restored.”

Averaging 25 km a day the group will hike a total of 2900 km, finishing in Invercargill in February 2008.

The group will map their progress on their website www.nzunderfoot.com and will be welcomed and supported by Project K staff and students at key destinations along the way.

We encourage the public to get out and support the group as they pass through your town.

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