Epic trek to help with Aids

Good cause: Loren Good (from left), Sarah Scoullar and Lisa Russell (with Jamie Russell, 11, behind) have walked more than 200km to highlight the plight of people with Aids in Third World countries. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Inspired by Alexander the Great's marches, three Tauranga teenagers have walked more than 200km to Auckland to raise funds for World Vision.

Otumoetai College students Loren Good, 17, Sarah Scoullar, 18, and Lisa Russell, 17, arrived at Auckland's Sky City on Monday after walking about seven hours a day for a week to promote awareness of HIV and Aids in Third World countries.

"We learnt about Alexander the Great [at school] marching his troops to battle and thought we could march 200km for people in Third World countries with Aids," Loren said.

She is a leader for World Vision at their school. She saw what good work the organisation was doing in poor countries and wanted to do something original to help.

The girls had a webpage dedicated to recording their trek and to raise money. Yesterday it had as many as 4000 hits and by Sunday they had raised at least $770. But it did not come easy. They left at 7.30am on Monday but by Wednesday were suffering from soreness, fatigue and bad weather, said Sarah. But they decided to push on through wind and rain, wearing "sexy high-visibility" orange raincoats.

"It would have been so easy to give up but it would have been such a waste. We've come this far, we might as well finish," said Lisa.

Her mother, Suzanne Russell, said: "The second day I thought if they could get up and go, they would definitely make it. They were in a bad way. Poor Loren's feet looked terrible, she had skin coming off."

Loren said her blisters had reduced her to tears.

"I have about 10," she said.

The girls said they were happy to take off their shoes and relax overnight in their hotel room at Sky City before driving back to Tauranga.

They had been put up at various lodges and homes throughout their trip and were accompanied by two support cars and a team of family members.

Liz MacIntyre, communications manager for World Vision, said it was great to have young people getting involved in such a worthy cause.

"It's such an innovative idea," she said. "There has been a real campaign for Third World poverty this year. We're really proud of them."