Polly Letofsky completes the Wellington log of her world walk for breast cancer.
She left her home in Vail, Colorado, on August 1 and will not return till 2003. Included in the 31/2-year walk are stops in Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Istanbul, Rome and Amsterdam.
The idea of walking around the world came after she saw a man on a similar walk when she was 12: "I thought that was pretty cool."
Her walk Is being used to promote the early detection of breast cancer. "I really wanted to use my walk to benefit women around the world," she said.
Ms Letofsky has been handing out information about breast screening programmes and funds raised on the trip - so for totalling US$50,000 (NZ$96,000) - will help breast cancer research.
Each day she walks about 30 kilometres, and has been through five pairs of shoes.
Most of her accommodation, meals and supplies have come from sponsorship or from people met while walking. Though her one-woman crew, Sandra Smith, broke her leg blackwater rafting in Waltomo Caves, Ms Letofsky said she had been healthy so far and was coping with the long distances.
"I've always really been in shape and I've been a walker for a long time."
Ms Letofsky will be outside Farmers In Cuba Mail, Wellington, today before leaving for Nelson at midday.
