Barefoot mates battle the bush
Two Kiwi blokes are going barefoot in the bush, for children who go without shoes.
Vini Williams and Jack Keeys, from Paeroa, will be ditching their trainers to walk more than 100km barefoot to raise money for shoes for under-privileged children.
Tomorrow the 26-year-olds will begin their mission of walking the Abel Tasman Great Walk and Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk, both four-day hikes each, in five-days.
Battling through blisters and cracked heels, they hope their pain will ease many children’s lives.
After competing in Auckland’s Gumboot Marathon raising just under $23,000 for Melanoma NZ and Rural Support Trust, Keeys said he had been itching to find another opportunity to give back.
It was Williams who suggested a run to raise funds to buy school and sport shoes for low socioeconomic communities.
Teaming up with the Salvation Army, Williams then thought ‘‘why not take the gumboot concept a step further and go barefoot’’.
The schoolmates spent more than three months training every weekend barefoot on different treks across the Waikato in preparation.
Williams has been carrying his 11-month-old son on his back for extra training weight, while Keeys has been running barefoot along gravel paths – both to toughen-up and condition their feet.
‘‘There’s a lot of DOC walks around us, but I’ve been going up mainly Mt Pirongia and through Waitomo Cave treks,’’ Williams said.
He’s also started ditching shoes in everyday life.
‘‘You get a few looks when you’re in the middle of town barefoot going into a cafe´ with your family, but it’s all a part of the process.’’
Starting with the Abel Tasman Great Walk tomorrow, Williams and Keeys are aiming to complete the four-day walk, in less than 48 hours. They will then return to the North Island and complete the Lake Waikaremoana walk, another four-day walk, in under
48 hours.
Williams said the hardest part has been keeping the soles of his feet rough.
‘‘It’s been tough, especially when you have a couple of days off. You could go on a big hike barefoot on the weekend and then have to go back to work and put your work boots on. As soon as you put socks back on your feet start to soften. But I think when it comes to the day it will be the mental side of things that we will have to push through.’’
Their goal is to raise money to purchase school and sports shoes for children across low socioeconomic areas in New Zealand, and in targeted locations in Africa with a 50/50 split.
As a former student of Paeroa College — a decile two school — Keeys said he’s known all too well the impact that a new pair of shoes could have on a child’s selfesteem.
‘‘Having old or no school shoes can often affect a child’s pride or the eagerness to learn. For some kids who struggled academically and were going home to difficult environments, the sports field was not just their freedom and sense of belonging, but gave lifelong opportunities through tournament travel, scholarships. Sports literally changed hundreds of lives in our local communities.’’
Williams and Keeys have a ‘‘soft target’’ of raising $5000 for the cause, but are hoping to reach $15,000.
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To support Vini Williams and Jack Keeys’ cause go to their Givealittle page ‘Barefoot for a future.’