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Ka Meechan

Walking from Damascus - Beirut

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

$1,088

My Goal

$1,000

Select amount to donate

$20
Can buy 1 tarpaulin to help a family after a natural disaster.
$40
Can buy 1 shelter toolkit for a family (tools to rebuild their house) to help after a natural disaster.
$50
Can pay for a welcome pack for newly arrived former refugee families, containing cleaning products, blankets etc.
$100
Can help ensure vital services, such as Meals on Wheels, continue to reach those in desperate need.
$250
Can provide hot drinks for 500 people affected by disaster.
$750
Is the cost of a one week ‘Restoring Family Links: missing lives’ exhibition after a disaster.

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My Activity Tracking

191
kms

My target 145 kms

Te Auaunga Oakley Creek Friday 30 July

Today was a big day of weeding and laying out plants for the monthly Sunday planting at Te Auaunga Oakley Creek Walkway. I couldn't believe I'd almost done 10,000 steps as we were packing up the tools at the end of the morning's work. 

Tamaki Drive, over the hill and dolphins - Weds 28 July

I was scouting a route to link two popular walks - Tamaki Drive to St Heliers and the Tamaki Riverside Walk. I couldn't make a coastal link work, too many roads and up and downs, but I was rewarded for my efforts by sighting a pod of dolphins off Karaka Bay, heading north. It was so sunny and sheltered I nearly got in the water to follow them! Almost 18km on the return leg from Beirut to Damascus.

Thank you Sponsors

A huge thank you to all my generous sponsors. I got over the distance target and you've pushed me across the fundraising target.  There are so many demands on your charity dollars, so many worthy causes, I appreciate you finding some more for Red Cross refugees.

Home Library Pool Home Tuesday 27 July

A few chores on foot instead of in the car today, plus a watery kilometre to add to the total. Just turned into Wiremu Street when the huge black cloud burst.

Five Maunga Sunday 25 July

I was well supported for the walk which brought me to Beirut - a 20km circuit of five Auckland Maunga: Maungawhau Mt Eden (196m),    Maungakiekie One Tree Hill (184m) Te Tātua a Riukiuta Big King (133m)  Puketāpapa Mt Roskill (110m)  Ōwairaka Mt Albert(135m). The rain stayed away and we watched Auckland change from the tihi of each maunga. Great to have walking companions for longer walks.

Small reserves between Dominion and Mt Eden Sat 24 July

After a couple of hours in the garden I headed around the small reserves locally. Some prunus campanulata are out in profuse pink and the tuis love them. Photo taken Fearon Park, work Te Tatua. Almost in Beirut!

Walmsley Park and Eels loop Thursday 22 July

Another 8km closer to Beirut through the backstreets, cut throughs and parks. Glimpsing rainbows, ripe and rotting golden citrus and the ever magnificent magnolias.

Into the CBD and back for vaccination Tuesday 20 July

Through the cycle route in Sandringham and onto the NorthWest cycleway into the city. Vaccination time, and home. Another 13km towards Beirut.

Langs Beach to Waipu Cove Sunday 18 July

What a difference a day makes - no rain for the walk over the hill. Other walkers and runners out going both ways. Too slippery to attempt the Coastal path.

Langs Beach after the rain Saturday 17 July

Late afternoon the wind dropped and the rain stopped,  people and dogs dispersing the cabin fever.

Getting back to normal

Up and about and added a few kilometres towards Beirut with my Meals on Wheels delivery.

Hiatus

I'm over half way to Beirut, with 78km down and thanks to my wonderful sponsors for getting me close to my goal. I've a forced break of a week or so - oral surgery - but will be pushing on in a few days. Aiming to hit Beirut and make a good dent on the return journey

Whiritoa Beach and Estuary Friday 9 July

A low-tide walk along the beach from south to north and upstream along the estuary. Every beach walk is different - tide, wind and sunshine creating a unique walk.

Whiritoa perimeter Thursday 8 July

By walking every street in the village I clocked up a little over 8km. What a difference the sunshine makes. Eight brave souls surfing.

Whangamata from the wharf Wednesday 7 July

It had rained heavily through the night but we had a dry walk following the estuary from Whangamata walk past the Marina and along the fitness trail. Kotare and oyster catchers on the beach.

Whiritoa Beach Tuesday 6 July

The weeks of easterly winds have taken their toll on the beach. Sand shifted, rocks exposed, access ways obliterated. Nearly 5 km between the showers.

Instead of the car Monday 5 July

Got my 6km in today by walking to the library then onto a catch up with some Election colleagues and home in the sunshine - picking up a few grapefruit kindly left out on the corner.

Two Maunga walk Sunday 4 July

A crystal clear and sunny Sunday, I checked out the track improvements on Te Tatua a Riukiuta - Big King and then onto Puketapapa - Mt Roskill. Another 13km towards Beirut.

Three bridges - Valonia, Ernie Pinches and Eels - Saturday 3 July

A crisp still and sunny day - a great opportunity for a few more kilometres towards Beirut. Lovely in the sunshine but I needed to keep moving and avoid the shady side of the street

Two days 'not walking' kilometres 1 and 2 July

Other commitments meant I couldn't do destination walks over the last two days. Yesterday my 4km came from Meals on Wheels delivery and today's 5km from weed clearing on the Oakley Creek, Te Auaunga, walkway.

Smiths Bush Guided Walk Wednesday 30 June

More talking than walking again, will need to get some distance in over the weekend!

Otuataua Stonefields Guided Walk Tuesday 29 June

Only a couple of kilometres added on the clock. The icy rain showers and biting southerly curtailed our walk as we struggled to hear the commentary. A reserve to explore later.

Eel Trap Bridge Monday 28 June

This is one of my go-to walking routes when I haven't plotted a particular course. Miscalculated the passing rain showers but I had a hot shower and tea waiting once I dripped through the front door, refugees wouldn't have those luxuries. 

Magnolia Walk Sunday 27 June

My early bird sponsors - thank you all - had more runs on the board than I had kilometres on the map, I needed to rectify that. In my waterproof jacket I did a magnolia hunt through my local alleyways and reserves. 

Please support me on my Red Cross Journey challenge.

Kia ora friends and walkers

I have committed myself to the Red Cross Journey challenge, and I need your help.

I am lucky to choose where I walk, how far and what I carry. Refugees do not have a choice.

Red Cross provides relief to Kiwis affected by disaster, deploys specialist delegates overseas, and helps former refugee families settle here in Aotearoa. Please consider donating $20 to help Red Cross (and help me reach my goal).

By donating to my Red Cross Journey page, you will help to make a difference to people affected by conflict and disaster here at home and overseas. Your donation today will help families and communities caught in a crisis. 

Convinced? Please donate $20 (or more) to support me and New Zealand Red Cross.

I have done 191 km

Thank you to my Sponsors

$104

Anna Hart

$104

Pauline Millar

It was nice to join you for a few kms. Fab effort Ka

$104

Christine Meechan

Trot on

$52

Anna Fitzgibbon

Hi Kat!!

$52

Melanie Laville-moore

Fabulous effort Ka! Lots of love xx

$52

James Grigg

Good work!

$52

Liz & Kate

Keep on trotting, Boolah

$52

Ka Meechan

$52

Paul Harding

Good on you Ka. Doing something, anything is the first step ... literally. x

$52

Barry Vautier

Great Seva Ka.

$52

Vivienne Grigg

Happy tramping. Love, Viv x

$50

Anonymous

You are a good person, Ka. Happy to support you and sorry it's taken so long to click through and take action! Linda x

$50

Amigaza

$41.60

Rach And Bill

Amazing thing to do, Ka! good luck.

$41.60

Cathy Tracey

Fab well done. X

$41.60

Belinda Cooke

Go Ka! Very happy to support you in this worthy cause.

$20.80

Tanya Reid

$20.80

Steve Worthington

Well done Ka, hope you reach and exceed your target

$20.80

Mima Birks

Go my pal

$20.80

Nevena

Go Ka....wonderful cause. X

$20.80

Sally Woods

Great cause

$20.80

Geraldine Tennant

Love your work Ka! Settle down and get a good start. Xxx

$10

Ka Meechan