A travel blogger by the name of Desmond Langkilde to some, and ‘The Fossil’ to others, along with his beloved Husky, Jaxx have embarked on a mission to aid a Husky rescue endeavour.
Des and Jaxx have given Forrest Gump a run for his money by walking from Johannesburg to Plett to raise funds for an initiative close to Husky lovers’ hearts. To put it into perspective, that’s a distance of +40 000km.
The red Siberian Husky and his walking companion are currently on the last stretch of their long walk to ‘Husky help’, which comprises a stroll from Plettenberg Bay to the Mother City. The duo are set to arrive in Muizenberg on Saturday, August 28 at sunrise beach where they will meet with the rest of the pack.
Why the walk?
Jaxx went through five foster homes in his 7-year lifespan before Des’s wife, Beverly adopted him through Husky Rescue SA (HRSA). Des started the Walk4Africa.org, which is a non-profit organisation.
Their latest walk of champions focuses on SOS (Saviors of Siberians) in order to raise funds for the husky rescue organisation based in the Cape. SOS is the heart of powerhouse duo DelRay Nortier and Berenice Lemaitre, who have helped the huskies at the centre of their hearts. Together, Des and Jaxx are giving back to Jaxx’s family breed, an initiative inspired after many Huskies were displaced due to the pandemic. The funding is set to associate the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of abandoned or surrendered Huskies.
The target goal is R250 000 for part funding of costs. Half of the funds are set to go to the SOS Husky Rescue costs, while the other half will go to funding the ‘Walk/Run/Ride 4 Animal Rescue walkathon event set to take place along the same coastal route from Plett to the Cape in September.
The next Walkathon hopes to aid the Garden Route and Cape of Good Hope SPCA. They’ve also got an ultimate goal of the establishment of a Husky Haven.
The journey:
On their walk, they’ve stayed in overnight spots hosted by pet-friendly accommodations. Jaxx has kept a blog of his journey (because who doesn’t want a dog’s perspective on a brave adventure) which you can check out below.
If you want to join the walk, you can check out the details here. And, if you can’t walk you can always donate. (Jaxx barks a big thank you).
Picture: Walk4Africa