Having taken it step by step since September, 69-year-old ex-army major Tony F. Williams is close to completing his walk of the country.
Mr Williams began walking the length of New Zealand near the beginning of September this year to help raise funds for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MFS), also known as Doctors Without Borders.
The Wellington man’s goal is to raise $1 million. So far he has raised $27,600.
He knows he is nowhere near the target as he reaches the end of the walk but is still optimistic it could happen.
‘‘It could change if one million Kiwis decided to donate $1 tomorrow. I would have reached my target.’’
Mr Williams had a 27-year career in the New Zealand armed forces, and his first encounter with MFS was when he was stationed in East Timor.
He said he believed that even though he was no longer in uniform, he could still serve and help others.
His walk began in Cape Reinga and from Timaru he has just over 425km until he reaches the end of the marathon trek in Bluff.
‘‘It is wonderful we are going to achieve this, regardless if they need to bring me in on a stretcher. They won’t have to though.’’
One of the highlights for him so far on this journey has been meeting everyone along the way.
‘‘We live in a beautiful country and I have got to walk past beautiful scenery and meet wonderful people along the way.’’
His sister, Cathy Ahuriri, is part of his support team and tries to take photos of him with everyone they meet.
One of the other highlights was when they visited Hatupatu’s Rock. School children performed a haka for them and teachers and parents got to hear why he was doing this walk.
‘‘It was emotional. I was holding back tears, seeing that as I am just a person and who am I to receive something like this?’’
One of the things that has helped keep him going is a mantra he came up with on the second day of the walk.
‘‘Step by step, k by k, day by day, it will be A-OK.’’
Mr Williams said it had been physically challenging but that the pain would not stop him from achieving his goal.
‘‘Pain is a passing thing, you have to keep moving forward. People set themselves good goals but give up after the first pain, whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual. But you can get through it, you can reach your goal in the end.’’
Mr Williams said people needed to get out of their armchairs and stop making their homes their hospice.
‘‘People should not waste their passion, enthusiasm and wisdom. People can do it, you just have to want to fight for it. That’s the point of life, to make the most of it.’’
He said older veterans needed to bring in new blood and younger veterans had a role to play.
‘‘If you feel like you have something to offer, you should offer it up.’’
Mr Williams said he might be nearing the end of the walk, but it was not the end of the journey for him as this was part of an ongoing journey to help veterans.
His long-term plan included focusing on his country music next year to help raise funds for New Zealand veterans and potentially touring other countries and raise money for veterans in those countries.
You can donate to support Mr Williams cause at https://fundraise.msf.org.au/fundraisers/httpswwwfacebookcomTonyFW1953/walk-new-zealand-for-doctors-without-borders
