Paul Herbert's Walk for Breast Cancer Cure

I first thought of undertaking this epic journey back in 1990 as part of the New Zealand 150th anniversary as a nation. Now however, the catalyst for the planning of this venture is threefold:

(1) The most famous person to walk New Zealand for charity is the book publisher and philanthropist, the late A.H. Reed who, like myself, was born and bred in Whangarei, Northland. I have never forgotten, like a number of local primary-school kids at the time in 1970, walking up to the summit of Mt Parahaki, in Whangarei, with AH Reed himself (recorded article and photograph can be found in the Northern Advocate archives circa 1970 as well as being on the local television program of the time, Town & Around).

(2) I have the early stages of arthritis in my hips and knees. Whilst at times this is somewhat painful, I have the belief that my goals can be achieved but, at age of 53 years coupled with the arthritis, I am not getting any younger in order to achieve the recognised fastest time

(3) More importantly, I had originally talked about undertaking this walk back in 1988 with a very good friend of mine, Shane Donnelly, who represented New Zealand in the men’s 30km race walk at the Commonwealth Games in Auckland 1990. However, whilst we talked about it, it just remained a “good idea”. In mid-January this year, my good friend Shane passed away with Breast Cancer which he had been fighting for 3 years (and which I thought, up until mid-2014, he had beaten). Just before Christmas last year, I reminded Shane about us talking about our aspirations to walk the length of NZ back in 1990. He said to me, “Herbs, you could do this, man; do it! Don’t just think about it; do it! I’d still come along for the walk too but I’m wee bit distracted; both my legs are broken”. (The cancer had spread to his legs and other bones in his body). So, essentially Shane’s fight with this bloody destructive and insidious cancer is the impetus, catalyst and inspiration for me to achieve something I have always said I was “gonna-do” but never had. Shane will be with me all the way – in spirit and very much there in every sense of the word.

It is quite a common undertaking for someone to walk the length of New Zealand, raising money for charity. However, what makes my goal unique, is that I plan to not only raise funds for the charity Breast Cancer Cure along the way, but also do it in the fastest, officially recognised time.

I have researched online for the fastest person on foot to walk the length of New Zealand. To achieve this aim I believe I need to do it in under 66 days. It was apparently completed by a 22 year old Englishman in 2011. However the Guinness World Records, whom I have been in contact with, say that they “have no record at all for this undertaking.”