THERE are obvious disadvantages to walking across Australia in full Stormtrooper garb. But on the bright side, at least Jacob French, 20, is unlikely to suffer sunburn as he treks solo across the Nullarbor from Perth to Sydney to raise $50,000 for children's charity the Starlight Foundation.

''I have always had this dream to walk across Australia, and I thought if I was going to put that much effort into something which would make me happy, I might as well make other people happy on the way,'' the Perth sales assistant said.

A trooper: Paul French. Credit:Getty Images

''I thought I might as well give people a bit of a chuckle at the same time by doing it in a Stormtrooper suit.'' Mr French started his ''Troopertrek'' on Monday and aims to arrive in Sydney by December, which means walking between 35 and 40 kilometres a day, five days a week, while pushing his 50-kilogram supplies trolley and wearing his customised suit, which he bought online and weighs 10 kilograms.

''It does get very hot,'' Mr French said. ''The helmet is not very well ventilated. It's like wearing a bucket on your head. It's not very flexible either, so I'm moving pretty slowly.

''I hope to finish before the weather gets too much warmer, otherwise I'm just going to get drenched in there.''

Mr French was outside the town of Mandurah, about 150 kilometres south of Perth, when The Sunday Age spoke to him yesterday. By then, he had raised more than $3400.



