PRESS RELEASE
9 April 2016
VEGAN MAN WALKING THE WORLD TO SHOWCASE VEGAN LIFESTYLE
Zan Rebolj, 27, set off from his home town of Kranj in Slovenia to the UK in an attempt to walk the world, live more simply, and to spread the message about the strength of being vegan.
Zan quit his job as a food technician last year, got rid of all his material things, and booked a one way ticket to the UK. Zan stopped off first in Glasgow where he worked on an organic farm, and has headed south ever since on his self-titled ‘eco-vegan walking mission'.
Zan says: ‘I decided to get rid of everything except my laptop, as I wanted to track my journey and keep in touch with people during my walking mission. But the idea behind my walk around the world is really to show everyone that people who are vegan are not weak and to share my experience of being free. My family was very worried about me taking off, and wanted me to get a normal job, but this is what I want to do.
‘I have lost 4 kilos in weight since the walk started, and 60 kilos since becoming vegan. It really is a much healthier and more beneficial lifestyle.'
Zan is wearing vegan shoes made by Eco Vegan (http://www.eco-vegan-shoes.com) who have sponsored his walking mission. In 2016 Zan has walked from Inverness to Aberdeen, to Edinburgh, and spent a great deal of time in the Lake District, which he describes as ‘beautiful', and through Cheltenham, Bath, and down to the coast of Cornwall. He says ‘I'm making my way south with a back pack, some food, and two pairs of everything. It was very difficult in the beginning, but I love it now. I have my two walking sticks and attempt about 15-17 miles a day. I am fascinated by the British countryside and am happiest when walking, sleeping in the wild, and being at one with nature.'
Zan's diet mainly consists of porridge, lentils, rice, fruit, nuts, bread, and peanut butter, but he stops off for soup and vegan food at pubs and cafes when he can, though he adds that ‘it has been hard to find good vegan food, so I usually cook for myself'.
Zan sleeps in a tent and makes contact with people via the Internet who follow his journey. He recently stopped off at Hazel Scott's house in Cheltenham as a place to stay. Hazel had been following his journey and wanted to put Zan up, saying ‘I admire his commitment to this walking mission, and I applaud anyone who wants to share the vegan lifestyle message. I'm also going to do a load of washing for him!'
Zan says: ‘I love meeting the people on my journey and they are now asking to sign my backpack so it really helps motivate me.'
Zan became vegan in his youth, feeling uncomfortable at the sight of animals being killed. He says his new lifestyle and his walking mission have made him feel better and healthier. ‘I have no modern day stress. I believe this journey is about positivity. The only thing I need to ensure is that I am in the Netherlands by 18 June. I am walking from Rotterdam to the Hague with Eco Vegan Shoes.
‘Someone called me Forrest Gump the other day. I'm fine with that. I'm just going to carry on walking. It's the best thing I've ever done.'
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For more information, please contact Claire McGill -claire@garfunkelcommunications.co.uk- 07734 702 653
Zan writes a walking diary for Globetrotter Magazine and is being sponsored by Eco Vegan shoes.
Zan's travel blog is updated at:https://travel-fairytale.eu/
His Facebook page is here:https://www.facebook.com/zan.rebolj.9