Five friends of Ashley Treseder will walk overnight from McDonald Jones Stadium to Central Coast Stadium on Friday to raise funds for the medical expenses of the Jets fan.
Ashley "Ash" Treseder's story has touched people from around the nation after the 30-year-old's fateful dive off a pier in Shoal Bay earlier this year resulted in a broken neck and severe spinal cord damage.
The disability support carer and keen soccer player lost movement from his chest down and is currently working on regaining his independence.
So far friends and family have raised close to $90,000 for Ash's medical and rehabilitation expenses and housing modifications, which friend Luke Alexander said are expected to come to $2 million across Ash's lifetime.
Mr Alexander, of Stockton, said he came up with the idea to walk between the two stadiums when thinking about his friend's love of soccer.
"We used to play together with a few of the boys doing the walk at Wallsend. I was just at work and came up with it. I checked out the A-League fixtures and I thought we'll walk to the derby," he said.
A group of five of Ash's friends including Mr Alexander, Ben Hamilton, Kelsey Moss, Dan Byatt and Duncan Sandie will depart from McDonald Jones Stadium at 3pm and aim to get to the game between the Jets and Mariners before it starts on Saturday at 7.30pm.
The journey is roughly 90 kilometres.
"We're doing it in 24 hours with no sleeping," Mr Alexander said.
The challenge will be physical and mental, with the group of Hunter Water Hunter Heroes preparing to walk through the night.
"We'll be taking head torches, and warm clothes," Mr Alexander said. "I think the trick will be going slow and steady.
"We've got a support crew so every second checkpoint we'll change clothes and grab a few snacks, I'd say."
The team is fundraising online through the Move Mountains for Ash gofundme page and is also selling t-shirts.
Mr Alexander said the challenge was inspired by the formidable courage of his mate.
"Just how positive he is. I would say his attitude towards it all has been pretty inspirational," he said.
"He used to work with two gentlemen in wheelchairs and now he is in their situation. Once he's back into that work he'll be able to help a lot of people having known both sides of the coin."
Mr Treseder will join his friends for the first few kilometres of the hike as will Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna and more than 50 of Ash's friends and family.
And, rest assured, Ash will be in the stands for the game at the end of the journey.
