Do you like a challenge? Do you have team spirit, enthusiasm and want to be part of something amazing? Then Oxfam Ireland’s TRAILTREKKER is for you!
Following the overwhelming success of last year’s event, Oxfam Ireland is now encouraging teams to sign up for TRAILTREKKER 2010 and complete the 100km trek within 36 hours.
TRAILTREKKER is a truly unique event, with teams being required to walk by day and by night, along a cross-border route; and amongst all the international TRAILTREKKER events around the world, TRAILTREKKER Ireland is the only route to include a boat trip.
“I’ve done it, so can you!” says TV medic Dr Mark Hamilton, who accepted the TRAILTREKKER challenge in 2009 and hopes to participate again this year.
The star of RTE’s prime time Health of the Nation and Afternoon Show says: “I took part in this amazing event last year and it was one of the toughest yet most rewarding things I’ve ever done. If you want to be part of something special, I’d urge you to get together a team of four friends, family or colleagues. Sign up now for this September’s event and play your part to support Oxfam’s work to overcome poverty.”
Conor Mallon, director of Best Property Services, led the highest NI fundraising team last year. Conor says: “This year we’ve registered two teams and we’re the first to do so when TRAILTREKKER 2010 was announced. When we registered last year, we realised it would be a challenge and it certainly lived up to that. Whilst some of us were moderately fit, this was something totally different and it really tested us. Walking all through the night was a unique experience and I have to say that the camaraderie and craic amongst the team and the other colleagues was fantastic.”
Taking place on 4-5 September the Oxfam TRAILTREKKER challenge returns for 2010 with a revised route and organisers hope to sign up even more teams and to confirm the event as Oxfam’s top fundraising event in Ireland. When this international event came to Ireland for the first time in 2009, teams (predominantly made up of work colleagues, siblings and spouses) helped Oxfam Ireland raise over €360,000. This year Oxfam Ireland’s TRAILTREKKER is aiming to recruit 150 teams and raise in excess of €450,000.
Teams of four endeavour to complete a cross-border 100km trail, starting 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. While anyone with a moderate level of fitness can train to take part in TRAILTREKKER, over the course of 36 hours participants’ determination, stamina, dedication and camaraderie will be thoroughly tested!
By entering TRAILTREKKER, you’ll experience a massive sense of achievement, not only on a personal level but also as a team. Your trekking achievements will bring 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 work in east, central and southern Africa and in emergency response around the world.
Oxfam Ireland’s TRAILTREKKER will be once again kindly supported by sports retailer Surf Mountain and global financial institution State Street International (Ireland) Ltd. State Street entered 14 teams for the 2009 event and has 15 teams ready to take up the challenge again this year.
For more details on TRAILTREKKER 2010, text “TREK” to 51500, call 01635 0406 (ROI) or 028 9089 5972 (NI) or visit www.oxfamireland.org/TRAILTREKKER.
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