22 AUGUST 2008 - Monday August 25 is a special day of remembrance for Chris Cairns as he continues on his 1001k walks from Pukekohe to Rolleston to raise funds to increase rail safety awareness.

The driving reason behind the walk is Chris's treasured sister Louise who died on August 25,1993, 15 years ago after the train she was travelling on was hit by a truck who failed to stop at a level crossing.

While Chris is doing this walk for Louise it is also for all those who have lost someone through a rail tragedy and he wants to raise sufficient funds to increase the number of young people who have access to rail safety education.

On Monday Chris will be walking from Atiamuri Village to Taupo and accompanying in one of the support vehicles will be his mum Sue Wilson who has backed Chris all the way in his efforts to raise rail safety awareness in this country.

Chris is delighted at the number of people who have given generously so far as he has walked his way down State Highway One since starting out at the start of this week.

Donations can be made through the Chris Cairns Foundation website by following the links and by texting the word "CCF" your name, age and where you are from to the number 306 to go in the draw to win a trip to the Gold Coast for two people.

While thinking of the families of the three young women who died in the Rolleston crash back in 1993, Chris said he would also like to pay tribute to the driver of the train that day Graeme Wilson. August 25th is also Graeme's birthday and yet he always takes the time with his wife Nan to visit the graves of the young women who lost their lives in an accident he had no chance of avoiding.

So far this year 7 people have died on the rail network either as pedestrians or in level crossing accidents.