Kevin Rudd to join Andrew John on bipolar walk
October 17, 2008
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd will join rugby league great Andrew Johns on Sunday as he kicks off a six-day walk to raise funds to help tackle bipolar disorder.
Johns, a veteran of 249 first-grade matches, 21 State of Origin appearances and 26 Test matches, went public about his battle with bipolar disorder last year.
Bipolar disorder affects 600,000 people Australia-wide.
The walk will leave Newcastle on Sunday, travel down the Central Coast and end in Sydney on Friday, with the aim of raising awareness of the condition and bringing in funds for the Black Dog Institute.
Mr Rudd will join Johns for the first 5.5km leg of the walk from Civic Park at Newcastle.
Parramatta Eels star Brett Finch and surfing star Matt Hoy will accompany Johns on the walk all the way to Sydney.
Johns will stop off along the way for a number of sporting events, including kayaking with Trans-Tasman adventurers Justin Jones and James Castrission on Monday, running a kid's rugby league clinic at Gosford on Wednesday and swimming across Manly Cove with Olympic legend John Konrads and rugby union great Phil Kearns on Friday.
He will captain a cricket team against a side led by rugby union star Matt Burke at North Sydney Oval on Friday, before the walkers head into the city to finish at the Hickson Road Reserve in The Rocks at about 4pm (AEDT).
Johns is also auctioning off the last pair of football boots he wore.
The public can bid on the boots, register to walk part of the way with Johns or donate by visiting
www.nibandrewjohnswalk.com.au.
