Speaking on the occasion, Nisha Agrawal, CEO, Oxfam India said “ As the teams gather in Bengaluru today to celebrate the success of the debut chapter of Trailwalker in India, we at Oxfam India are pleased to announce the dates for the next Trailwalker -- January 25 to 27, 2013, on a radically altered trail. The route has been modified taking into account the feedback from the participants who wanted a softer and shadier mud-road to walk on rather than the long-stretch of pucca roads that the inaugural Trailwalker provided''
Giving an account of the funds raised during the last Trailwalker, Oxfam India declared to have collected a total of Rs. 1.19 crore as on May 11, 2012- the last date of fundraising through Trailwalker 2012. The highest Fundraising Team is Paul Revere's Midnight Walk and the amount raised by them is Rs. 245 lakhs. The second Highest Fundraising Team is The Body Shop Spartan Walkers and the amount raised by them is Rs, 9.63 lakhs. The third highest fundraising team is Petrofac Mumbai Indians and the amount fundraised is Rs. 5.05 lakhs. As many as 23 teams have qualified for Fundraising Awards and for raising over Rs.1 lakh for various Oxfam India projects.
Talking about their experience of participating in Trailwalker debut chapter in India, Roland Minez, Consular officer, US Embassy, Mumbai, who was one of the four team members comprising the Paul Revere's Midnight Walk said “Trailwalker India 2012 was an incredible experience for us and we raised almost 50,000 dollars for Oxfam. The effort was our way of showing our love for India while admiring its countryside. The team did a lot of workouts and undertook long treks into the hills near Mumbai in preparation for the Trailwalker.”
“We are already looking forward to the next year's event,'' Minez further added.
Mr. John Sayer, Executive Director, Oxfam Hong Kong, who participated in the debut Oxfam India Trailwalker and who is also a veteran Oxfam Trailwalker participant in Hong Kong and other countries said “ Trailwalker India is unique in that walkers are indeed walking past communities which contain people who are clearly very poor themselves. I think there is good potential for many more teams with good fundraising capacity. Oxfam India is pioneering fundraising through a sponsored endurance event which I think has great potential among India’s emerging middle class.''
Oxfam India also felicitated the fastest team of last year’s Oxfam Trailwalker ‘Confident Flying Feet’ which had Vignesh, Chandrusekhan, Nanjunda & Manjunath SS (all in their 20s)- four residents of Bengaluru, who come from a very modest background themselves but were motivated by the cause of helping others to participate in trailwalker 2012. The team members got a lot of support from their employers to participate in the Trailwalker and raise funds for the cause. Commenting on this Vignesh, the team leader of ‘Confident Flying Feet’ further said “We know the importance of equality in society and we understand that we all need to put in efforts to bring about this change.”
Commenting on the strategy of being the fastest team to complete Trailwalker, Vignesh further added that“We were the first one to cross check point one – we covered a distance of 30 kms within first 3 hours. Our strategy was not to stop anywhere as we wanted to finish it first. We are happy that we were able to live up to our strategy and our dreams.”
In addition to the recognition given to the teams who have raised maximum funds and came first in Trailwalker 2012, Oxfam India also announced four speed awards given to Fastest All Male Team -- Confident Flying Feet, Fastest All Female Team- Terra Trots, Fastest Mixed Team- March of the Penguins, and Fastest Veteran Team- Protrek.
For more information on Oxfam India Trailwalker, please log on to:http://www.trailwalker.in//
Oxfam Trailwalker:
Oxfam Trailwalker is the world’s greatest team challenge to overcome poverty and injustice. With teams of 4 required to walk (or run) 100km in 48 hours, it is a test of physical endurance requiring mental strength and team spirit.
Oxfam Trailwalker is a global phenomenon which started as a training exercise for the Gurkha Regiment in Hong Kong 30 years ago. In 2011, 15 Oxfam Trailwalkers were organized in 12 countries. In 2012, Oxfam Trailwalker debuted in India.
About Oxfam India
Oxfam is marking its 61st year in India this year. Oxfam India, a fully independent Indian organization (with Indian staff and an Indian Board) is a member of a global confederation of 17 Oxfams.
The Oxfams are rights-based organizations that fight poverty and injustice by linking grassroots programming (through partner NGOs) to local, national and global advocacy and policy-making. All of Oxfam’s work is framed by our commitment to five broad rights-based aims: the right to a sustainable livelihood, the right to basic social services, the right to life and security, the right to be heard and the right to equality: gender and diversity.
Oxfam India's vision is to create a more equal, just, and sustainable world. The overarching vision of Oxfam India is ``right to life with dignity for all‘‘. Oxfam India will fulfill its vision by empowering the poor and marginalized to demand their rights, engaging the non poor to become active and supportive citizens, advocating for an effective and accountable state and making markets work for poor and marginalized people.
Oxfam India works in partnership with 170 grassroots NGOs to address root causes of absolute poverty and inequality in the four areas of 1) Economic Justice, 2) Essential Services, 3) Gender Justice and 4), Humanitarian Response and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Oxfam India’s program is focused on seven States – Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand – and four social groups – Dalits, tribals, Muslims, and women.
Sourced From: Corporate Voice Weber Shandwick
