Walk for poor

Trailwalker 2002

Photos & text by Penelope Yau, Alison So, Keith Yee & Hennis Tong

Trailwalker 2002, a fund-raising walkathon held annually since 1981, was held from 8 to 10 November 2002. More than 3,600 people from all round the world joined the competition.

A team called Montrail from the U.S.A. won the event this year, crossing the finish line in 12 hours and 47 minutes. It was their second win in a row. The team broke their own official record by five minutes. Team members were Scott Jurek, Nathan McDowell, Brandon Sybrowsky and Karl Meltzer.

Originally, in 1981 the walkathon was named Exercise Trailwalker. At the time, only Gurkha soldiers could join. In 1986, Oxfam Hong Kong reorganized the walkathon. Since then, Trailwalker has been open to the public.

Participants are required to complete a 100-kilometer hike along the MacLehose Trail within 48 hours. The route starts from Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung to So Kwun Wat in Tuen Mun. Participants walk through eight country parks.

Each of the 900 teams has four members, who must be at least 18 years old. “The reason for joining the walkathon is to test our fitness ability and help people by raising donation,” said a member of a group named “54321”.

Each team must raise at least $6,000 in sponsorships in order to join the competition. Trailwalker has raised $138 million over the past 20 years.

Oxfam Hong Kong hoped to raise another $17 million in Trailwalker 2002.

According to Chong Chan Yau, executive director of Oxfam Hong Kong, funds raised by the event this year will be used to help disadvantaged people in Hong Kong and to support health care, job training, basic education, development projects and emergency relief programs in Asia and Africa.