Disabled man walks backwards into record book
KOTA KINABALU: Despite having a deformed leg, Edward Taning has walked – backwards – into the Guinness Book of World Records.
He reached the Kadazandusun Cultural Association grounds in Penampang near here after a gruelling 404km journey that began from the east coast town of Lahad Datu on Feb 12.
Completing the longest backwards walk by a disabled person, 50-year-old Edward said he did it to raise funds for charity. Not once during the 22-day journey did he think of giving up.
Edward was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was nine and developed a deformed foot.
His feat was supported by the 1Malaysia Walk Backwards Move Forward For Charity programme that is jointly organised by the 1Malaysia Inanam Community, under the patronage of the Sabah information department and the Sabah Kadazandusun Murut Welfare and Education Association.
It was his third achievement since 1992, when he hiked backwards to the peak of Mount Kinabalu. In 2009, Edward took a 340km backwards walk from Sandakan to the state capital.
His next goal is to do a 600km backwards walk from Bintulu to Kuching in September and 781km from Tawau to Labuan next year.