Anthony Kells is not one to let the prospect of a few blisters get in the way of a good cause.
The 22-year-old Tauranga man plans to walk the length of New Zealand to raise awareness of the online business directory Webia, which he started earlier this year alongside the company's
executive director Jared Dohrman.
Webia's aim is to raise $1 million for Starship Children's Hospital by April next year, by signing up businesses to its online service.
Individuals who sign up to Webia are able to receive updates from businesses of their choice, while businesses can display their logo, a link to their website, and information and photographs to advertise their services and location - even including a Google Street View image of their business.
Mr Dohrman estimated 10,000 companies would need to sign up to Webia to allow the company to reach its goal. Webia currently had just under 100 companies signed up.
"It's pretty much creating hype where we are a hot business," he said.
Mr Kells planned to leave Tauranga on July 1, walking north to Cape Reinga, before heading south to Invercargill. And Mr Kells' trek could end up being even longer - Mr Dohrman said his business colleague intended to keep going until the required number of businesses signed up to Webia.
Mr Kells hoped the walk would take less than two months.
"I'm hoping it will take about 38 to 45 days."
His progress was going to be tracked on Webia's Twitter, Facebook and Bebo accounts, and video footage from the trek was to be posted on YouTube. He planned to have a support crew accompanying him in a motorhome.
It had been estimated Mr Kells could cover 7km in an hour, and he planned to walk for 10 hours a day.
Mr Kells said while he was concerned about how he would make his way through the motorways of larger cities like Auckland, he expected he would be able to walk on the left of the concrete barrier on the roadside, as long as he avoided trespassing on private property.
"I'm pretty sure there's a walkway over the harbour bridge."
He had not done any specific training for the walk, but was hopeful his existing fitness levels would see him through.
"Once upon a time, I was actually quite fit, but now ... I've done a couple of short walks, I walked from Tauranga to Omokoroa."
Webia can be found at www.webia.co.nz
Anthony Kells is not one to let the prospect of a few blisters get in the way of a good cause.
The 22-year-old Tauranga man plans to walk the length of New Zealand to raise awareness of the online business directory Webia, which he started earlier this year alongside the company's
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