MANonFIRE

Death Valley

Finish Line Badwater 2010

Dave Walker performing Haka at start of Brazil 135 Ultramarathon

Dave Walker - Proud Moment - Completing Brazil 135 Ultramarathon

Dave Walker is an irrepressible runner and his latest formidable challenge is a winner for the Kiwi ultra-marathoner and the National Burn Centre at Middlemore Hospital.

On July 11, 2011 Dave Walker will tackle the “world’s toughest foot race” – Badwater Ultramarathon for the second time.

Covering 217km (135 miles) non-stop from Death Valley to Mount Whitney, California in temperatures up to 55c (130F), it is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.

Going further than any Kiwi

Not content to stop at the finish line Dave – the MANonFire is continuing a further 33km from the Badwater finishline at the 2,244 metre (8000 ft) mark of Mt Whitney to the summit of Mount Whitney 4,390 metres(about 14400 ft) and back to the finishline.

Dave is driven by his passion for endurance events but he also is committed to raising funds for the National Burn Centre at Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

As a child Dave suffered burns and he regularly takes on challenges to support New Zealand’s main burn treatment facility.

He used the 2010 Badwater ultra-marathon and his personal Cape2Cape challenge in early 2011 to raise awareness for burn prevention in New Zealand and to raise funds for the National Burn Centre.

Now Dave wants people to throw their support into his latest campaign at Badwater.

Dollars for specialist surgical equipment

The MANonFire will be the first Kiwi to conquer such a mountainous slog and the money he raises will buy much needed surgical equipment.

Specialist knives and gauges cost about $2,000 and a microvascular anastomotic coupler system costs about $7,000.

The equipment will be used in patients that require blood vessel anastomosis, which joins the ends of two blood vessels together.

The procedure is needed as a result of trauma to the vessels, in reconstruction, neck dissection and free flap grafts. Surgery time is shorter than that of traditional suturing.

Leading burn surgeon

National Burn Centre clinical leader for burns Richard Wong She says: “One moment can lead to a life-time of tragedy.

“A major burn injury is one of the most challenging injuries to treat as a doctor, and to survive as a patient.

“Seconds to burn, minutes to cool can result in days to weeks of hospitalisation, multiple operations, and a life-time of on-going care for rehabilitation and reconstruction.”

People do survive – and they can do well. With advances in plastic and reconstructive surgery bodies can be rebuilt and thus rebuild lives.

How to help

If you would like to help in any way, please email Dave dw1@xtra.co.nz or donate online today to the South Auckland Health Foundation.

Select the "Make a donation" button below. It's simple, fast and totally secure. *

Or you can post a cheque donation to

MANonFIRE
South Auckland Health Foundation
Private Bag 93320
Manukau 1640

or Online Banking

Bank ASB
Acct: South Auckland Health Foundation
Acct # 12 3113 0002022 00
Ref: NBC MoF


Follow Dave’s journey .... www.manonfire.co.nz


Many thanks for your support from
Dave Walker and the National Burn Centre, Middlemore Hospital


* If you live in New Zealand your donation is eligible for tax credit and please contact the Foundation if you require a receipt.

** All funds donated come directly to the South Auckland Health Foundation, the fund raising arm of the CMDHB and the National Burn Centre.

*** For information on this campaign, the National Burn Centre and South Auckland Health Foundation email michelle.kidd@middlemore.co.nz or visit www.sahf.org.nz.