Here's your chance to fight poverty by walking 100 km in the outdoors at the Oxfam India Trailwalker
Want to tackle poverty by walking a 100 km with the help of your colleagues or friends?
Oxfam, a non-profit that has been in India for the past 62 years, is organizing a walkhaton in Bangalore to raise funds for the causes that it supports in India. The Oxfam India Trailwalker, as its called, is the nonprofit’s flagship fund raising event, which is held across 11 other countries across the globe.
The event is conducted in the outdoors, and participants have to complete the 100 km distance, over a period of 48 hours. Participation for the event is in teams of four, with each team having to make a minimum commitment to raise Rs 50,000. In 2012 Rs. 1.2 crores was raised and in the 2013 edition, Rs. 2.5 crores was how much the teams managed to raised.
Bangalore walkathon:
The third edition of Bangalore edition of Oxfam India Trailwalker is scheduled from 24-26 January 2014. The 100km walk will be from Pearl Valley, Anekal to Bidadi with 197 teams participating.
The inaugural Trailwalker in Bangalore was held in February 2012. The second edition, which was held from 25-27 January 2013 had 164 teams and 654 walkers taking part, out of which 555 walkers completed the challenge.
Last year, Oxfam included Mumbai for the first time to be part of the Oxfam Trailwalker. It was held on 15-17 November, 70 teams walked in the first ever Mumbai Trailwalker. 191 walkers completed the 100km challenge.
About Oxfam:
As mentioned earlier Oxfam has been in India for the past 63 years. It is involved in fighting poverty through NGOS working at the grassroots, advocacy efforts and influencing policy-making. Oxfam India works with about 170 grassroots NGOs to address root causes of poverty and injustice in the four areas of economic justice, essential services, gender justice and humanitarian response and disaster risk reduction. Oxfam India focuses on the states of Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Origins:
Oxfam Trailwalker started as a training exercise for the Gurkha Regiment in Hong Kong in 1981. To date the events have raised more than $135 million. Last year 15 Oxfam Trailwalkers were scheduled in 11 countries.
Can’t walk? Feel free to volunteer or be part of the support crew:
In the past two years, more than 500 volunteers came forward to manage and supervise the check points, provide medical / physiotherapy help and cheer the participants on.
Each team is helped along the way by a support crew who provides the team with clothes for change, food, medicines and even helps you relax at the check points. Support crews are encouraged to walk with the team in the last leg of the trail or when the going gets difficult.
Find more details here.