A MAN who is walking from Perth to Sydney in a Star Wars Stormtrooper suit has been thrilled with the support he received in the Wimmera.
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Jacob French, 21, of Western Australia is making the trek to raise money for Starlight Children's Foundation, a charity for seriously ill children.
Mr French planned to pass through Stawell yesterday evening after having a rest day at Dadswells Bridge on Monday.
He aims to leave the Wimmera today and reach the outskirts of Melbourne on Sunday.
Mr French said he met many fantastic and generous people in the Wimmera.
"The last couple of weeks has been incredible," he said.
''There's been more traffic on the road in the Wimmera than South Australia so I've been stopped by plenty of people for donations and photos.
"I've spent more time here than I expected, but that didn't matter because of all the donations I received."
Check out Mr French's Stormtrooper adventures in the Wimmera by clicking the picture link below.
Before Mr French left Horsham on Saturday morning he received a free check up at Wimmera Foot Clinic.
Podiatrist Adam Chalmers said after his wife found out about the trek on Facebook he was keen to meet Mr French.
"For a bloke who's been in the same pair of shoes since Adelaide his feet were in remarkable shape," he said. "Apart from a couple of small blisters they were in good condition."
Mr Chalmers said he was blown away by the trooper's efforts for charity.
"It's an amazing undertaking by someone who's only 21," he said. "People say Generation Y are given everything on a platter, but here's a man who's currently raised about $70,000 for charity off his own bat."
Mr French said he felt like he was on the home straight to Sydney.
"It's only seven weeks until I aim to finish," he said. "Then I'm going to have a long rest."
He said he had encountered many reactions.
"Many people in the Wimmera heard about me through Facebook and newspapers so they were keen to stop and talk," he said. "However when I walked through some tiny towns of about 200 people in the Nullarbor no-one batted an eyelid when they saw me.
"Which makes me wonder what happens in those places, if the townspeople weren't intrigued by the sight of a Stormtrooper pushing a trolley."
Mr French said people could donate to the cause at his Facebook page Troopertrek 2011.
