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Emma Daken - Source: ONE News -
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At a time when most young people are enjoying a Christmas break, one university student has been striding the highways to raise money for a special cause.
Emma Daken is the youngest person to have walked the length of New Zealand after finishing her marathon effort in Bluff.
Daken has worn through four pairs of shoes in her epic journey.
"You can feel the gravel with every step," the 20-year-old says.
"Shin splints, I've had a quadricep strain, blisters, black toenails, but overall I've held up pretty well."
Nothing could distract Daken from her focus - raising awareness of cystic fibrosis.
"I've got a very good friend with CF so I suppose she was the catalyst for embarking on something like this, but in saying that, throughout the trip I've met so many wonderful people who have CF so it's no longer solely for my friend. It's for everyone I've met along the way as well."
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition where the body's mucous becomes thick and sticky and can block tubes to vital organs. Four hundred people live with it in New Zealand and there is constant research for a cure.
Now, thanks to Daken, that research is $28,000 better off.
Kate Russell from the Cystic Fibrosis Association says there is a lot of hope in stem cells for people with CF and the money will move that research forward.
"We've only got a really tiny budget here, we're only really little, so this is a significant amount of money for us," she says.
The walk took Daken 70 days.
"It's mixed emotions - it's kind of sad to be over but on the same token I'm not ever having to eat creamed rice ever again!"
