Backwards walker (semi-paralysed) to try again | Daily Express Newspaper Online, Sabah, Malaysia.

Backwards walker (semi-paralysed) to try again Daily Express Newspaper Online, Sabah, Malaysia.: "Backwards walker (semi-paralysed) to try again
Published on: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 Email to a friend Printer Friendly

Kota Kinabalu: A 48-year-old disabled grandfather will be walking backwards for 342km from Sandakan to raise funds for the Seri Mengasih special development centre, here. The semi-paralysed Edward Taning from Inanam will attempt to achieve the feat over 15 days to help the centre raise RM500,000.
The centre needs the money for its annual operations costs and for the upkeep of 130 children who are mentally challenged, among others.
Hence its inaugural charity project known as 'Edward Gostaning: Walk Backward, Move Forward', from Sept. 26 to Oct. 10.
Edward, accompanied by his manager Doronis Balantis and another assistant, Mison, will start the backward walk from Padang Bandaran, Sandakan, on Sept. 26 and finish at Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa.
The organisers are also hoping to have the Malaysia Book of Records recognise Edward's bid as well as recognition as the only disabled man to walk that distance backward in the Guinness's Book of Records.
Prior to this, Edward claimed to have scaled the summit of Mount Kinabalu backwards on Dec. 6, 1992.
'Initially, I planned to walk backwards for 555km from Tawau to Kota Kinabalu since 1999 but none of the welfare organisations was willing to organise and sponsor the project.
'After much discussion Seri Mengasih Centre Chairman Datuk Mohd Safari Abd. Manan showed interest but this will involve a shorter distance of 342km from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu,' he said. He said he has been practising walking backwards the past three months in his village in Kg Kitobu, Inanam, to ensure all goes well."