Barb’s blisters worth effort
The enormous blisters will take some time to heal but Barb Mullen says every painful step she took was worth it.
The Porirua woman had her feet up on Sunday, 24 hours after completing the 753km trek, on foot, from Napier to her home town, to raise awareness for children who are abused.
‘‘I got a very warm welcome when we got in to Aotea Lagoon. I’m feeling pretty good – I was quite tired in Foxton but I was able to take a rest and recharge.
‘‘As sore as my feet might be, I’d do it all again tomorrow, I would walk to the ends of the earth for this cause. Nothing I went through compares to what is happening to some children.’’
An abuse survivor herself, Ms Mullen’s walk, starting on February 1, was to highlight the plight of child victims and raise funds for charity Child Matters.
Ms Mullen is ‘‘not into politics’’ but wants the issue confronted.
‘‘This is something we can’t keep under wraps or hide from – 10 kids die every year from child abuse in New Zealand and the powers-that-be need to do something. People are still scared to report it, I think there is still so much fobbing off.’’
Aside from a day or two of rain, she had excellent weather for her NapierTaupo-new Plymouth-porirua hike. Her two pairs of Brooks shoes took a battering and ‘‘I had blisters inside blisters’’, but her resolve never wavered.
She was disappointed with a lack of national coverage, but happy with local media drawing attention to her effort.
Her support crew – ‘‘my Pat [Southee] and my dog’’ – along with ‘‘team of administrators’’ did a fine effort by sending out constant emails to media and updating her Facebook page and linkhands website.
She collected some money along the away for Child Matters and donations of $3 can made by texting 2451 before March 16.
‘‘I would stop and talk to people. I cornered one truckie for half an hour while he changed his tyre, he gave me what I reckon was his lunch money as a donation. There was a lot of support, that amazing Kiwi hospitality is out there, it was very humbling.’’
Ms Mullen did encounter some negativity, with verbal abuse levelled more than once from motorists, speeding cars ‘‘nearly taking me out’’ at least twice and she had her sleeve clipped on one frightening occasion.
Wanting to ‘‘stay in people’s faces’’ about this issue, Ms Mullen is mulling her next endeavour, once the blisters heal.