The 50-year-old Russell Kearney, who is trekking the perimeter of South Africa on foot, stayed over in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) during the past weekend.

Kearney, accompanied by his dog Kei, was put up for the weekend by the Avoca Vale Country Hotel, just outside of Makhado (Louis Trichardt).  Both Kearney and Kei have survived life-threatening diseases.

Kearney has survived cancer. He rescued Kei from certain death when he was only pup. At the age of two months, Kei also recovered from the deadly parvo virus.

The duo is walking the entire boundary of South Africa, a journey of 6 000km. They set off in February this year to “spread the message of love” and to promote Kearney’s biography, Keep walking – inspired by faith, hope, and love. His walk was inspired by his disease. Kearney also told the manager of the Avoca Vale Hotel, Rae McMurtrie, that he wished to self-publish his life story, which will include all his travel tales.

Kearney referred to his trek as a mental struggle, “but one in which he put his faith in God.”

Currently, Kearney and Kei cover approximately 25km a day. On Tuesday, they were well on their way to Musina. On reaching Musina, Kearney and Kei would have travelled 2 510km since February.

Kearney, who wishes to publish about 20 000 copies of his autobiography, has already pledged half of the proceeds to the Birds of Paradise Bird Sanctuary near Plettenberg Bay and the Port Elizabeth’s Animal Welfare Society.