Oxfam’s 11th Trailwalker 100km endurance event finishes

Media Releases, News, Oxfam Trailwalker article written on the 21 Apr 2013

Oxfam’s 11th Trailwalker finished this morning, with 79 per cent of walkers completing the 100km endurance event.

While most of the teams finished yesterday afternoon, Melbourne team ‘Dave’s Holiday Xperience’ stormed to the finish line in just 11 hours and 20 minutes, arriving at just after 6pm on Friday.

The team – Mr Overend, 36, of Abbotsford, David Wilson, 46, of Box Hill, Shane Lawley, 40 of Mill Park, and Steve Whitehead, 49 of Mt Waverley – plan to run in the Brisbane, Sydney and Perth Trailwalker events this year in under 48 hours and raise more than $10,000.

“Between us we have collectively done 20 Oxfam Trailwalkers and the best feeling is always crossing the finish line. We have done a lot of training and it has taken a lot of effort getting here but it’s worth it,” team leader David Overend said.

The fastest all-female team to cross the finish line as a complete team of four was ‘Where is Cazza’, who finished the trail in 13 hours and 25 minutes.

Trailwalker’s first-ever wheelchair participant Bruce Towers completed the trail in an impressive 32 hours and 18 minutes, crossing the finish line at 4.49pm on Saturday.

Mr Towers’ teammate, Victorian MP David Southwick, said Mr Towers had kept the team’s spirit high as the team faced the challenges of the 100km trail.

“Bruce was amazing, a real inspiration and kept us all together” he said.

Of this year’s 3024 Trailwalker Melbourne participants:

  • 2,391 (79%) walkers finished the trail
  • 717 (95%) teams finished with at least one walker
  • 384 (54%) complete teams of four made it to the finish line
  • Average time to complete the 100km was 29 hours and 1 minute

Trailwalker Melbourne Coordinator Brett Long said all participants should be congratulated for their wonderful efforts on the trail.

“This event is a massive achievement for participants and goes towards Oxfam’s life-saving work helping some of the world’s poorest communities find pathways out of poverty and injustice,” he said.

Mr Long said Oxfam was saddened that a Trailwalker participant passed away on Friday night and expressed condolences to the deceased man’s family and friends.

For more information contact Oxfam Australia Media Coordinator – Anne Wright on 0411 035 695.