2 Nov 2009

Wheelchair marathon champ to tackle PNG's Kokoda Track

8:08 pm on 2 November 2009

Wheelchair racing champion, Australian Kurt Fearnley, is to attempt his toughest challenge yet, when he attempts to crawl Papua New Guinea's Kokoda Track next week, just days after winning the New York Marathon.

The 28-year-old from Newcastle won a record fourth successive New York race today.

He now plans to spend 12 days trekking the iconic 96km track that crosses the Owen Stanley Ranges in PNG.

But Mr Fearnley, who was born without a complete spinal cord, will leave his wheelchair and crawl the track to raise awareness of men's health issues and in support of the charity initiative, Movember.

He says he thinks Kokoda will be the toughest single experience he's had but he's excited about it.

Mr Fearnley says he sees himself as able-bodied and beyond that he has 15 people around him to provide help if needed.