Oxfam Trailwalker Perth teams have conquered their weekend endurance challenge in a record-breaking finish while raising nearly $650,000 to help people in the global fight against poverty and inequality.
The annual event came to a close this morning when Team South Perth Rotaract Trailblazers crossed the finish line in Forrestfield after just over 17 hours at 1.09am – a record early finish for the event since it started in Perth four years ago.
Nearly 850 walkers in 209 teams took on the 100km and 50km challenges, given 48 and 24 hours hours to complete their trek against the beautiful backdrop of the Perth hills.
The event included another record-breaking effort by Team 4x4x24, with the men from Melbourne and Sydney pushing through the 100km trek to cross the finish line in just 12 hours and 56 minutes on Friday night.
Among those to set off on the 50km hike with a special determination yesterday was Team “Hurry Up Girls”.
On the day team members Naomi and Hannes Holly registered for the 100km walk, their eight-month-old baby girl Nora was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Nora has since been through six rounds of chemotherapy and surgery, and has been in remission for two months.
With Nora’s godparents Chris and Rae Jas, the team still took on the 50km walk – which they completed by just before 1am this morning – in a stand against cancer and for their daughter and Oxfam’s cause.
“If she can get through cancer, we can still go through with this,” Ms Holly said at the start in Chidlow yesterday.
Others taking on the 50km challenge had travelled to Perth from across the globe – including “Mixed Bag of Nuts” team member Campbell Powell from China, who trained on The Great Wall after discussing the event with clients in Beijing.
Oxfam Australia National Events Fundraising manager Anna Wemyss said the event was a testament to participants’ determination and dedication, all in the name of charity.
Ms Wemyss thanked the generosity of more than 500 volunteers who donated their time to ensure the smooth running of the event around the clock over two days.
The money raised this weekend will help Oxfam in its continued fight against poverty and injustice around the world,” Ms Wemyss said.
“Trailwalker Perth participants and volunteers should feel proud at their accomplishments in a weekend which symobolises the power of team work.”
For interviews or more information, please contact Amanda Banks on 0411 449 653 or amandab@oxfam.org.au
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