Best foot forward for fast

Auckland teenager Christopher Kessell after walking from Auckland to Whangarei for the 40-hour-famine. Photo: John Stone

Christopher Kessell didn't have time to practice before he walked 160km - he only decided he was going to do it the week before.

On Saturday at 5.20am Mr Kessell, from Auckland, left from Northcote, Auckland and walked to Whangarei as part of his 40-hour-famine fundraising efforts.

The 17-year-old didn't want to give up food, he wanted to push the limits.

"It was too easy. I wanted to do something that was really challenging," he said.

Mr Kessell admitted it was "harder than I thought" and said he struggled when he reached Waipu.

"I was walking along Waipu near the gas station and I collapsed," he said.

With only a four-hour rest stop in Wellsford, once Mr Kessell reached Whangarei on Sunday night and saw at least 15 of his family members cheering and playing motivating music, he couldn't wait to be finished.

"I saw them and I just sprinted to the end," he said "physically it was so hard."

Mr Kessell said his mum and dad would drive and wait at different locations to make sure he was doing alright.

So far, he has raised $1,600 -- if you would like to donate visit www.worldvision.org.nz.