Oxfam TRAILWALKER teams and fundraising on track as event gets off to a superb start

Adam Carter, Ian Stewart, Paul O’Connor and Toby Cogley have won the Oxfam TRAILWALKER Sydney 2008, completing the 100km trail from Brooklyn to Mosman in just 14 hours and 24 minutes.
The team are from Paddy Pallin, one of the national sponsors of the Oxfam TRAILWALKER, and crossed the finish line just before 9:30pm on Friday evening, averaging a speed of approximately 7km an hour through the difficult terrain between Brooklyn and Mosman.
Team leader Toby Cogley has completed seven Oxfam TRAILWALKER challenges and said that as well as having the fastest time, he felt at his best at the completion of this event.
“I haven’t felt this good in the event ever. I enjoyed 80 percent of the walk, and only suffered 20 per cent, and in the past it has been almost the opposite.”
“I love the event – the charity, the teamwork and the fundraising – that’s why I keep coming back.”
Oxfam TRAILWALKER spokesperson Leigh Stewart said that hours before the walkers set off, their fundraising for Oxfam’s work to fight poverty and injustice in 28 countries had surpassed the $2 million mark.
“We’ve seen an incredible result today by Adam, Ian, Paul and Toby, and an even more incredible result by the 2000 Sydneysiders involved in the event who have raised $2 million even before it even started.
“We are well on track to our target of $3.2 million dollars, and can celebrate the 10th anniversary of TRAILWALKER in Australia with a bang.” Ms. Stewart said.
500 teams of four started the endurance challenge this morning, and some will continue to walk the track until the early hours of Sunday morning.
Almost 700 volunteers are working in 40 different roles as podiatrists, massage therapists, drivers and trail marshals along the 100km trail that stretches from Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury to Mosman, overlooking the harbour.
Oxfam TRAILWALKER began in 1981 as a military exercise in Hong Kong, and is now one of the world’s largest and longest fundraising extreme endurance challenges.
TRAILWALKER will be launched in Belgium tomorrow, adding to the list of countries where it takes place including New Zealand, UK, Hong Kong, Japan and both Sydney and Melbourne.
Oxfam TRAILWALKER Sydney 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the event, and having done the event seven times Toby has some advice for other veterans of the challenge.
“If you do it often enough, you might get lucky once.”
Friends, family and fans can check on the progress of teams and make donations through the Oxfam TRAILWALKER website at oxfam.org.au/trailwalker.
For more information, to interview Leigh Stewart or Oxfam TRAILWALKER teams, contact Oxfam Australia Media Liaison Sunita Bose on 0407 555 960.
Oxfam TRAILWALKER Quick Facts:
• In 10 years, Oxfam TRAILWALKER participants have walked a total of 43 laps around the world
• In 10 years, Oxfam TRAILWALKER events have raised more than $20 million for Oxfam’s work. That amount could provide more than 700,000 children in the poorest regions of the world with new books, pens and coloured pencils
• In 10 years, more than 7000 volunteers have donated approximately 145 working years to make the events possible.
• State Street have been the principal sponsor of Oxfam TRAILWALKER since 2003.
About State Street:
Global financial organisation, State Street, is the principal sponsor of Oxfam TRAILWALKER in Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and Japan. As Australia’s largest institutional investor and a leading bank and custodian, State Street provides investment servicing, investment management, research and trading services for the world’s largest investors.