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+--- Thread: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek (/thread-3217.html)
Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - muppet - Sunday 27-Nov-2011
HIS once sparkling white armour is dusty, weather-beaten and cracking; he has welts behind his knees and elbows and the skin on his stomach and back is rubbed raw.
But the stormtrooper keeps trudging, pushing his rickety three-wheeled trolley along the edge of the Eyre Hwy, every step taking him closer to his goal of walking 5000km from Perth to Sydney.
He may look like one of Darth Vadar's henchmen, but this trooper is one of the good guys using his trek to fundraise for the Starlight Children's Foundation, so far raising more than $45,000.
Inside the costume is Jacob French, 21, from Bussleton, WA, a sales rep at Harvey Norman and member of the 501st Legion enthusiasts who dress as Star Wars characters for good causes.
Trekking about 45km each day, Jacob raises an armoured hand to salute every vehicle which honks; amused truckies and curious tourists pull over for photos and then make a donation.
He is stopped so often that his trip has blown out by almost three months.
"Based on my original time frame I should be finishing up any day now, instead I've still got months to go and another 3000km but it's been worth it because the support keeps me going and I wanted to get the message out there," Jacob said.
In fact, he is expected to reach Kimba - the official "halfway point across Australia" - today. Jacob has battled heavy thunderstorms, when his shoes and socks stayed wet for weeks, and sweltered under extreme 39 degree days where his armour is too hot to touch.
Under his suit he wears black "ladies tights" and a long-sleeved rash vest, which aren't enough to stop the "armour kisses" where the skin is pinched behind his knees and elbows. On a shoe-string budget, he camps in rest areas off the highway, rolling out his swag and setting up his little cooker to make noodles, porridge or coffee.
He admits there have been times, out alone by the side of the road when stops to pull out his deckchair and munch on crackers where he wonders why on earth he's doing this.
Particularly on his 21st birthday on November 12, when he was near the Nullarbor, suffering march fly bites before a thunderstorm hit, and no phone reception to speak to girlfriend Danelle Spencer, 19, his parents or his five brothers and sisters.
"Coming across the Nullarbor, there was a week where I barely saw anyone and I'm trekking along in stormtrooper costume across the edge of the desert in 35 degree heat going 'I must be crazy to do this'," he said. "Because there was no one else around to tell you otherwise, you start to believe it."
But he says the people he's met and the amazing experiences, including playing at the Nullarbor Links golf course, being pulled over by police who pretended to arrest him and climbing the 50m tall Diamond Tree, near Manjimup, have made the trip the time of his life.
To track Jacob's progress, see the Troopertrek 2011 facebook page.
To make a donation, see the Everyday Hero website.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/km-trek-a-fate-worse-than-darth/story-e6frfq80-1226207173558#ixzz1erOGTbXA
http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/km-trek-a-fate-worse-than-darth/story-e6frfq80-1226207173558
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - scope - Sunday 27-Nov-2011
I have facebooked Jacob a couple of times on his journey after seeing him on a news report. He is doing such an awsome job. I know I could not do it.
Awsome Jacob, you go boy
Jason
Scope
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - Beanie - Sunday 27-Nov-2011
yeah i chat alot with him since we shared a brew in geddon, he plans on finishing up in late feb in sydney and may even be coming to dreamworld... so best of luck for these last few months walking.
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - The Scotsman - Sunday 27-Nov-2011
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - Darkvoyd - Monday 28-Nov-2011
Legend!
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - Phoenix - Monday 28-Nov-2011
So awesome.
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - dengar - Monday 28-Nov-2011
Unbelievable effort - he deserves a parade/guard of honour when he finally completes the trip.
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - TheWolf - Monday 28-Nov-2011
I do hope the garrison is planning a road trip, or flights down ok we can meet him when he arrives.
I dont think he should have to buy his own drinks when he gets to Sydney.
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - Kev Vader - Monday 28-Nov-2011
http://www.501st.com.au/forum/thread-3230.html
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - Doc - Tuesday 29-Nov-2011
Not sure if anyone wants it but i have the hardcopy of the article from yesterdays MX.
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - Beanie - Wednesday 30-Nov-2011
not sure if you are all mates with him on Facebook but heres a quick pic of him at HALF WAY ACROSS AUSTRALIA SIGN
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=281637698540021&set=a.193763083994150.38304.191534147550377&type=1&ref=nf
RE: Jacob makes it to the half way point- Troopertrek - Deimos - Wednesday 30-Nov-2011
Man he is doing really well