Your legs will hurt. Your spirit will soar…
For fitness enthusiasts looking to end the summer on a high point, Oxfam Ireland is now recruiting teams for Trailtrekker 2012, an inspirational non-stop 50km and 100km team event described by participants as “tough”, “exhilarating” and “amazing”.
Trekking through the picturesque Mourne Mountains to Carlingford in just under 36 hours, it takes place on September 1st and 2nd and attracts hill-walkers and adventure race participants in an endurance event that helps to change the lives of families and communities affected by poverty and injustice for the better.
Supported by global sponsor State Street, TRAILTREKKER is a unique fund-raising event that creates life-long memories. Past participant Austin Mulvenna of Cross County Ramblers described it as “equally gruelling and exhilarating… an amazing event all round”, while Stephen Wallace of team No al Monte Moderne said after the 2011 event: “Blisters galore! Really pleased we did it.” Maria McCarter of Oxfam Strollers explained that TRAILTREKKER was “a very tough challenge that added to our sense of achievement”.
Trailtrekker is now in its fourth year in Ireland and Oxfam Ireland’s Events Manager, Grace O’Neill, promises that “your feet will hurt but your spirit will soar as you achieve something incredible with Oxfam Ireland’s Trailtrekker. Choose your 50km or 100km challenge and sign up today.”
“Sometimes, maybe just once in a lifetime, you get the chance to achieve something extraordinary, to wow your friends, prove something to yourself and make a difference. Trailtrekker is one of those chances.”
“Whether you’re old friends, running buddies or work mates, with the right training and attitude anyone can take part in Trailtrekker. It takes teamwork, determination and will test your stamina to the limits, but the sense of achievement when you cross the finishing line is like no other.”
“Not only will you have accomplished an incredible feat as an individual and as a team, you will also have brought real change to some of the poorest communities in the world, as all the funds raised by Trailtrekker will enable Oxfam Ireland to carry out its vital work in east, central and southern Africa.”
Teams of four commit to raising €2,000/£2,000 sponsorship, the equivalent of providing temporary shelter for 20 families in an emergency. Teams of two commit to raising €1,000 for Oxfam’s work, the amount needed to provide an irrigation scheme that supplies safe drinking water to 1,000 people.
The 100km challenge sees teams of four take on the trek in less than 36 hours. For 2012, participants can now compete as a team of two or four for the 50km event, which offers a less intense though still substantial challenge, to be completed in less than 16 hours.
Oxfam Ireland’s TRAILTREKKER is part of a growing worldwide phenomenon of 15 events in 12 different countries. Supported by global sponsor State Street, other partners that help to make TRAILTREKKER a success include 53 Degrees North, O’Briens, Louth County Council, Newry and Mourne District Council and Down District Council.
For more details about signing up for TRAILTREKKER 2012, call 01 635 0403 (ROI) and 028 9089 5972 (NI) or visit www.oxfamireland.org/trek.
Notes
- Registration for the event is €200/£200 per team and participants must also commit to raising a minimum of €2,000/£2,000 sponsorship per team.
- The Oxfam TRAILTREKKER course is a specially designed route that starts in Newcastle, Co. Down, before traversing the Mourne Mountains, the Ring of Gullion and the Cooley Peninsula and finishing in the medieval village of Carlingford, Co. Louth. This cross-border route encompasses some of Ireland’s most stunning landscapes and is steeped in Irish mythology.
- Since TRAILTREKKER began in 1981 in Hong Kong, over 32,000 teams (128,000 individuals) have collectively walked over 11.5 million kilometres (the same distance as walking around the world 287 times!), becoming great ambassadors for Oxfam’s work and raising over €70 million/£61 million.
- In 2012 over 22,000 people will collectively walk over 2.2 million kilometres (the same distance as walking around the world 55 times!), becoming great ambassadors for Oxfam’s work and aiming to raise over €13.7 million/£11.3 million worldwide.
- Money raised through TRAILTREKKER allows Oxfam to carry out long-term work to fight poverty in hundreds of communities in east, central and southern Africa. Fundraising efforts allow Oxfam to respond to emergencies by providing disaster relief and also to campaign for changes in politics that make the world safer and fairer for everyone.
- A percentage of the funds raised through TRAILTREKKER will be invested in the maintenance and upkeep of the Mourne Way.
- Oxfam Ireland’s TRAILTREKKER is kindly supported by global sponsor State Street.
- Oxfam Ireland is a member of Oxfam International, a confederation of 15 Oxfams worldwide working in 92 countries. For more information visit www.oxfamireland.org.
What some of the 2011 participants had to say about TRAILTREKKER:
Austin Mulvenna (Cross County Ramblers) Belfast, Northern Ireland
“It was equally gruelling and exhilarating… an amazing event all round!”
Stephen Wallace (No al Monte Moderno) Lisburn, Northern Ireland
“I can’t walk! Blisters galore! Really pleased we did it.”
Marian Corry (Tempo Tigers) Tempo, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
“This is one event I would recommend to anyone. The feeling of elation when you cross that finish line is amazing.”
Maria McCarter (Oxfam Strollers) Omagh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland
“It was a very tough challenge as expected but that added to our sense of achievement. Oxfam Ireland – a great charity, making a difference for the better across the world.”
Helen Jackson (Adventure Before Dementia) Australia
“We enjoyed it very much even though the weather was awful. We are glad that we made the journey from Australia.”
Alastair McKinley (These aren’t the droids you’re looking for) Lisburn, Northern Ireland
“The huge effort in organising and running such an event is clearly evident.”
Rebecca Fleming (State Street team IPPT4000) Celbridge, Co. Kildare
“Thanks a million to everybody for making TRAILTREKKER such a great event. Well-organised and challenging!”
Michael Kinahan (An Lú Abú) Navan, Co Meath
“An awesome event. It couldn’t be done without the amazing support crew, super volunteers and wonderful organisation. Elated.”
Gavin Beasley (The Delusionals) Walkinstown, Dublin 12
“Having completed TRAILTREKKER in 26 hours and 31 minutes, I can easily say it was the toughest thing I have ever done. An extremely well-organised and excellent event.”