From Dubna to India on the route of Afanasy Nikitin. Walkathoner Evgeny Kutuzov intends to make it six thousand kilometers with a handful of the native land to the monument to the Russian traveler in India. But this is not the main purpose of the campaign. By his act, the athlete intends to draw attention to the problem of a boy with cerebral palsy. So that he could walk, he needs to collect for treatment another two million rubles.
Native land for the great traveler
He has only a sleeping bag in his backpack, some clean linen and a minimal set of medications. Experienced walker Evgeny Kutuzov is light and keeps the backpack weighed more than ten pounds. At this time of year he prefers to go without a tent, warm clothes and even without spare shoes.
“I have pair of shoes, no spare. I plan to walk in them, at least, the next one and a half to two months. If they break, I’ll buy on the spot. Maybe someone will give gift me a pair of shoes, who knows” — shared the swimmer Yevgeny Kutuzov.
Evgeny came to Dubna from Konakovo. He started in Tver, and is heading to India. He intends to reach his goal by following the Volga to Astrakhan, and then through Azerbaijan, Iran and Pakistan — following the footsteps of the great Russian traveller Afanasy Nikitin. The marathon is dedicated to the 550th anniversary of the start of his travels, described in the book “Journey beyond three seas.”
“I carry a bottle of earth with me. It was collected at the monument to Afanasy Nikitin in Tver, on his native land. I plan to take it to India, to the place where he set foot on the ground-110 kilometers from Mumbai, there is his monument. From one monument to another, as a sign of love and deference,” the marathon runner said.
Where does he sleep?
Evgeny Kutuzov sleeps like fellow travelers in hostels, at temples. This is not his first walking marathon, so he is not afraid to go alone, although everything happened. Once, for example, on a lodging for the night in a village near St. Petersburg, he was robbed.
“There was a knock at my door. Several people came into the room and asked what I was doing. I said I paid for the night. They left. Then I was invited to dinner. While we were eating, one of these people came into my room and took money out of my backpack. About six thousand, — said Evgeny.
Not just a marathon, but a good cause
Yevgeny Kutuzov makes his “journey across three seas” for the sake of 13-year-old Vadim Antonenko, a patient with cerebral palsy. He needs treatment and rehabilitation in Germany. Doctors promise that after the operation he will be able to walk. The money can be transferred to the account of the Fund “Stars for children”.
“He needs now 200 thousand, the operation is not enough. It is worth three million 200 thousand — a monstrous amount. Three million was already raised thanks to last year’s marathon. We also need money for rehabilitation — one million 800 thousand. And the timing is running out, he needs to go to Germany in August, ” Yevgeny Kutuzov said.
Evgeny calls himself a person who walks for others. This year he wants to visit all the cities visited by Afanasy Nikitin. He will walk and not travel over water. Along the way, he visits the sights, meets people.
Miles light
There is a long distance walk always you try to make it a little bit easier for you. He eats mainly fruits and vegetables. Legs get tired — some days Evgeny walks up to 80 kilometres, is six to eight hours with short breaks.
The whole way, according to approximate calculations, can be more than six thousand kilometres. And how much time it will take — the traveller even himself has no idea.
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Link to YouTube Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZfbXnDcKxU
