Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne starts this week: More than 2,900 people set to take on 100km challenge

Media Releases article written on the 04 Apr 2016

Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne starts this week: More than 2,900 people set to take on 100km challenge 

Friday 8 April – Sunday 10 April 2016

WHAT: In one of the most gruelling charity endurance challenges, more than 700 teams of four will walk or run 100km of rugged Victorian bush in the 14th annual Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne this week.

Participants aim to raise more than $2.5 million to help Oxfam fight global poverty.

WHEN: The teams set off in five waves from Jells Park in Wheelers Hill on Friday 8 April at 6.30am, 7.30am, 8.30am, 9.30am and 10.30am and have 48 hours to complete the walk.

The fastest teams are expected at the finish line at Wesburn Park in the Yarra Valley as early as 5pm on Friday evening. Most teams will take about 29 hours to finish the 100km, with the majority expected across the finish line between 7am and 4pm on Saturday 9 April. Some teams will finish in the early hours of Sunday morning.

WHERE: Teams walk from Jells Park in Wheelers Hill to Wesburn Park in the Yarra Valley, passing through the beautiful Dandenong Ranges National Park.

WHO: Almost 7,500 people are involved in Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne 2016. They include:

  • Participants: 2,912 people will walk the trail – that’s 728 teams of four.
  • Volunteers: More than 800 volunteers will work in 40 different roles over the weekend, including podiatrists, physiotherapists and massage therapists to soothe the weary walkers, trail marshals and truck drivers ensure the event runs smoothly and a ‘sweep team’ to clean up the trail.
  • Support Crew: 3,500 people will lose sleep over the weekend to act as a lifeline to a particular team, providing them with food, Band-Aids, hugs, clean socks – whatever they need to keep walking.

Picture opportunities of teams starting their 100km journey are available from 6am to 10.30am on Friday 8 April at the starting line at Jells Park in Wheelers Hill. Teams will be finishing the event from the evening of Friday 8 April until early Sunday morning at Wesburn Park in the Yarra Valley.

In Australia, Oxfam Trailwalker events in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney since 1999 have raised more than $70 million to help people living in poverty.

To arrange interviews with teams and Oxfam spokespeople or images of the event, please contact Bianca Wordley on 0407799365 or biancaw@oxfam.org.au. Media during the event will be handled by Oxfam Australia Media Coordinator Alice Plate on 0418 873 782 or alicep@oxfam.org.au.