RETIRED Australian Navy veteran Andre Jones made a pit-stop in Echuca on Friday as part of a 1600km walk around Victoria.
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The 58-year-old walked 42km from Gunbower to Echuca while pushing a 100kg buggy carrying food and supplies on day 27 of his 42-day trek.
“I’ve had good and bad days but my feet are starting to toughen up,” he said.
“I’ve had a few blisters in the past week but I’ve got three pairs of shoes with me that I rotate every day.”
The Follow the Sun - Bring Me That Horizon - Victorian Tour, which started at the MCG on Australia Day, aims to raise as much money as possible for drought-affected farmers and fire-affected wildlife.
“It means a lot to be able to do this. I’m not a celebrity who can pull together a $10 million music concert or a famous footballer who can raise millions, but this is my way of giving back,” he said.
“The animals didn’t have a choice about where to live and we have a responsibility to look after them.
“I’m also a bit of a Greenie and I believe climate change is partly responsible for what’s occurred. The bushfires started months before they usually do and they wouldn’t have been as severe. Climate change has certainly exacerbated it.”
By Friday, Andre had raised almost $900 for Need for Feed to support farmers in fire, drought and flood-affected areas and about $600 for Wildlife Victoria to look after sick, injured or orphaned native animals.
“I’d love to be able to get $1 for each 1km I walk so if I can get $1600 for each charity that would be great,” he said.
“However, whatever I get is more than they had before so I’m happy to get what I can.”
It’s not the first time the Melbourne man has walked or even run for charity.
In 2017, he ran 3700km solo from Melbourne to Darwin and last year became the first person in history to run 15,000km solo around Australia, raising money for GO Foundation, beyondblue, Royal Flying Doctors and The Smith Family in the process.
“As I will only do it for a worthwhile cause, this jaunt is to raise funds for our drought-stricken Victorian farmers and now, in light of recent events, bushfire victims,” he said.
Andre will stay the night in Echuca on Friday before heading to Barmah on Saturday morning.