UNDERTAKING a sponsored walk from Port Edward to Port Alfred to raise funds and awareness about autism, local dad Ralph Kirsten and his friend Hardy Hofmeister have provided an update on their journey so far.

On day 7 of the walk Kirsten said they had lost time as he needed to stop in Port St Johns to see a doctor to extract a fishing hook from his finger.
We decided to get a taxi from Port St Johns to Coffee Bay to get back on track. The ride took the whole day as we got up to Umtata and then had to arrange another taxi down to Coffee Bay,” Kirsten said.
They arrived after dark and set camp and had two-minute noodles for dinner.
On day 8 they started the trail once more and headed for Lubanzi, passing Hole in the Wall along the way. They had the joy of witnessing hundreds of dolphins passing them by.
“Hardy’s feet were in bad shape and he had to stop walking at Hole in the Wall. He then had to find local transport to Lubanzi while I continued to Lubanzi on foot.”
On day 9 Kirsten continued walking from Lubanzi to Breezy Point while Hofmeister took local transport.
Kirsten was alone again on day 10, from Breezy point to Nqabara.
“On this stretch I unfortunately injured my back and limped into Nqabara.”
Due to his back injury Kirsten stopped his walk, but was able to pass the baton to his good friend Jakes Oosthuizen, who is walking in his stead, continuing from Seagulls Hotel to Port Alfred.
“Once rested I will rejoin Jakes once he reaches Fish River to walk the Sunshine Coast with a lighter backpack and a rested back,” Kirsten said.
If you would like to support Ralph’s Autism Awareness Walk you can donate online at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/immediate-intervention-for-noahs-autism