Oxfam Trailwalker, a highly popular team challenge event that also raises funds for social causes across the globe, will be held in India for the first time between February 10 and 12, 2012 on a trail between Mysore and Bengaluru. The Oxfam Trailwalker entails individuals in teams of four to cover a distance of 100 km on a natural trail within a maximum time of 48 hours challenging their mental strength and building team spirit.
Oxfam Trailwalker is a global phenomenon which began in 1981 as a military training exercise for the elite Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment in Hong Kong. The record time of completion for Oxfam Trailwalker is 9 hours 50 minutes, achieved by the Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistics Regiment in Great Britain in 2004. In 2011, Oxfam Trailwalker is taking place in 15 locations in 12 countries, including three in Australia and two in England.
In India, Oxfam Trailwalker will be conducted on a 100 km trail from a location near Mysore to a location near Bengaluru. About 150 teams of four are expected to participate for the first Oxfam Trailwalker in India.
“Oxfam Trailwalker is not just for runners and professional athletes. It is for people who want to challenge themselves and, at the same time, commit themselves to the cause of fighting poverty and injustice,’’ said Rahul Bose, actor and global ambassador, Oxfam, adding: “Oxfam is marking its 60th year in India this year. It is fitting that in this historic year for the Oxfam family, it is bringing this global event to India.”
“We need many more events like the Oxfam Trailwalker that involve active citizens in the development of their own country and encourage them to give back to society. The two India’s – of the haves and the have-nots – will only start to come together as one when many more Indians get engaged in the fight against poverty and injustice,’’ said Nisha Agrawal, CEO, Oxfam India.
To support the work of grassroots NGOs in India and to conduct local, national and global advocacy to put in place policies, programs, laws and institutions that fight poverty and injustice, Oxfam India raises funds from individual and institutional donors. “Oxfam Trailwalker is a new and exciting fundraising event that we are bringing to India with the hope of raising additional funds for the very important work that we are undertaking in India,” said Kunal Verma, Director, Marketing and Communications, Oxfam India.
“Recently I climbed Sudarshan Parbat in Uttarakhand to raise funds for Oxfam’s health care interventions with Jan Swasthya Sahayog, Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. I joined Oxfam’s field visit to Chhattisgarh to see for myself the kind of partners and programs that Oxfam supports. The untiring, dedicated and selfless service that is being provided by this Oxfam-supported NGO to the underserved tribal population of Bilaspur, makes me happy to strengthen my association with Oxfam and to support and participate in the Trailwalker’’ said corporate lawyer, mountaineer, and Oxfam supporter Somasekhar Sundaresan.
Former international athelete and Arjuna awardee, Ashwini Nachappa, has also lent her support to Trailwalker and was present at the public launch where the website, application and registration process was officially thrown open. The public launch also included a panel discussion on “Being Amazing” during which the panelists Rahul, Som and Ashwini discussed and shared their experiences of setting and meeting personal challenges and the personal and professional rewards that came from that process.
About Oxfam India
Oxfam is marking its 60th year in India this year. It is fitting that in this historic year for the Oxfam family, Oxfam India has just become the newest and 15th member of the Oxfam International confederation
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 200 grassroots NGOs to address root causes of absolute poverty and inequality in the following 4 areas: (i) Economic Justice; (ii) Essential Services; (iii) Gender Justice; and (iv) 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 wome
