Mr Yelavich, of Auckland, is walking the New Zealand coastline on foot, using archery equipment and a fishing rod to stay fed. He carries a 35kg tramping pack and sleeps in a tent, but has had food and accommodation provided at certain points by supporters.
He walked the length of the North Island's West Coast, swimming or rafting where necessary. After being flown across Cook Strait, he kayaked around Marlborough Sound, and had to use a helicopter to get past the most rugged part of the West Coast, which he said was pretty gnarly.
After leaving school, he had been employed to stand on the side of the road holding a sign, but saw few opportunities therein for career advancement. He looked for a good charity to support, and then set his mind to raising money for it.
''It's pretty much like my university, a cheaper version with no student loan.''
He charges his phone with a portable solar charger, and carries a GPS unit so he can be tracked on his website (www.followbrando.co.nz). Yesterday he walked from Brighton Domain to St Kilda. Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand programme manager Grant Hiskens said he was proud to be associated with Mr Yelavich, as he showed ''courage and determination in his adventure''.
Dunedin resident Sally-Anne Hughes spent nine weeks at the Christchurch Ronald McDonald House while her daughter Paige (4) received chemotherapy, and said Mr Yelavich was doing a wonderful job raising money for the charity which had given her support, meals, and a shoulder to cry on.
Mrs Hughes' husband, Chris, said he had no idea what Ronald McDonald House was about before Paige's diagnosis, but had found it a big help afterwards, and was grateful to Mr Yelavich for doing a good thing for the charity.
- Nick Bosma.
