Men on walk with a mission

Detective Sergeant Sarn Paroli, of Levin, and his uncle Luigi Paroli, originally from Johnsonville, are men on a mission.

In the past 104 days, they have gone through a couple of pairs of hiking boots each, suffered from about 20 blisters between them, amassed some impressive facial hair, and covered about 2670km of the Te Araroa Trail, which stretches from one end of New Zealand to the other.

Since setting out from Cape Reinga on November 30, the pair have covered an average of 25km a day and aim to finish the 3000km hike - raising funds and awareness for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics - in Bluff late next month.

The torch run originated in Wichita, Kansas, in the United States in 1981, and while globally more than 90,000 police staff and supporters in 35 countries participate, the New Zealand branch was established only last year.

LETR New Zealand Charitable Trust chairman Inspector Mark Harrison, Palmerston North's rural area commander, said the torch run was a ''perfect fit'' with police work.

''A lot of policing work is about looking after the most vulnerable in our community so this is really what we're all about.''

Last night in Queenstown the Parolis rested their legs and did some quick boot repairs, in readiness for setting off early today to get to the Greenstone Track on the final leg of their journey south.

Det Sgt Paroli said the primary aim of the walk was to raise awareness for Special Olympics, but it was also an opportunity ''to see New Zealand in a different kind of way''.

Det Sgt Paroli, now living in California, was no stranger to walks of this magnitude, having walked the 3411km Appalachian Trail in the United States with his brother, Beni, raising money for handicapped children.

In 1985, he and two friends completed the 4120km Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada.