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250km Trek Against Animal Cruelty 2014

Trek Against Animal Cruelty

Hello everyone, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Benny and I have set forth 2 major challenges for myself. The first is to solo walk, the 250km “Great North Walk” without a support team of any kind, just myself with a backpack full of food and water. I have challenged myself to accomplish this in under 66 hours, which is the previous record for this trek. The second and perhaps the most difficult for me will be to give up meat for 66 days.

Why would I do this? The truth is-I love eating meat. There is little, in this world, that I enjoy more than slow cooked Lamb Shanks, Chilli and Garlic Prawn Pasta, Portuguese Chicken or a good old BBQ. You might even say I am a hard core carnivore. Despite this fact, as I have grown older, I am now 31, and somewhat matured, there has been this nagging voice in the back of my mind that questioned the choices that I was making in my diet and in the products and clothes that I bought.

When I looked at the mounting research that has repeatedly proven that animals have emotions, thoughts, and experience pain beyond the level of primal instincts, but actually on a level very akin to our own, I decided that I had lived my life in a way that was very disrespectful to my animal brothers.

That is the aim of my walk and my switch to an ‘Ovo-vegetarian’ diet. To show, overdue, respect for the animals that add so much to our lives and to raise awareness of as well as a little money too, and combat the animal cruelty that most of us choose to turn a blind eye to.

When? World Animal Day (4th of October 2014) I will be making my trek on the 4th of October, “World Animal Day”. This is a day that was originally founded in 1931 as a day to remember and highlight the plight of threatened species worldwide. Since that time it has grown to not only be about endangered animals, but to be a day committed to animals and the people who care about them without regard to geographical location, religion, political ideology or social strata. To me this is a fitting day for my own humble tribute to our furry friends.

For? WAP (World Animal Protection) When I started considering this adventure, I knew that I wanted the proceeds to go to an organization that did good things for animals everywhere and over the widest possible range of issues. That is why I decided on the WAP Group. The WAP addresses issue in every corner of the world and no topic involving animal welfare is beyond their attention. They have programs that run the gambit from rescuing animals in disaster areas to educating farmers on the ethical treatment of stock and food companies on humane slaughter methods. It works to protect endangered species, sponsors breeding programs and lobbies for stronger animal protection laws internationally. Wherever there is an animal issue in question the WAP cares.

Where? The Great North Walk. Beginning at the Obelisk in Macquarie Place in Sydney Australia the Great North Walk Track runs for 250 km to end at Queens Wharf Tower in Bicentennial Park in Newcastle. On the way it cuts through terrain that sets out from river valley to mountain peak and passes through Lane Cove National Park then Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park before traversing over the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn. Recommended travel time for the complete trek is 8-14 days. I intend to beat the previously held record that stood at just over 66 hours. This means I will have to maintain an approximately 4km/hr pace, regardless of terrain or weather nonstop, without rest. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_North_Walk

My Goals My purpose, for what is sure to be an ordeal, is two fold, 1) to raise $3500 to help support WAP and 2), to raise awareness against animal cruelty in the different industries; food, travel/ tourism, entertainment, clothing, and animals in crisis zones such as natural disasters and war.

What I Am Asking Of You To show your respect for your pets and all creatures great and small, on October 4th World Animal Day, please, just for one day, don’t eat meat and to donate freely to help me support WAP and their efforts to help all animals worldwide.

Final Note I welcome anyone who wishes to join to me, whether it’s for the whole walk or part of it, whether it’s for this cause or your own, please join me if you want to. Alternatively those that would wish to remotely accompany my progress along this journey; I will be wearing a GPS tracker that you can monitor, in real time. I will post a link closer to the date.

I also welcome any tips or advice anyone can provide with regards to training, diet and preparation for the day.

Lastly, I am not an extreme athlete and have never run a marathon. Until now, I have never even contemplated attempting anything like this, but I am confident, that with your help and support, I can reach my twin goals of raising animal awareness and at least $3500 to help their cause.

Together we can all make a difference.

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