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Press Releases & Updates

12 AUG 2017

OXFAM TRAILWALKER 2017 BRIEFING Experts and doctors share experience and training tips

Oxfam Trailwalker, the largest hiking fundraiser in Hong Kong, which will be held from 17 to 19 November, 2017. The theme this year is ‘We are Trailwalkers’. A total of 1,300 teams, or 5,200 walkers, will embark on the trail this year. Over 300 trailwalkers attended today’s briefing to help them prepare for the challenge. A doctor, a physiotherapist and a podiatist offered professional advice to help walkers better understand and cope with the common medical problems they would encounter before and during the event.

At the briefing session, Brenda Wong, Fundraising Manager (Events) of Oxfam Hong Kong, briefed walkers and their supporters on event details and safety measures. Kenneth Wu, a specialist in Emergency Medicine, Associate Consultant, Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, reminded participants to train adequately beforehand and shared tips on treating common medical problems. Vivien Cheng, an experienced trailwalker and Director of Community Partnership of the Green Earth, gave some tips based on many years of trailwalking experience, and talked about the environmental measures of the event this year. Doris Chow, the Secretary of Hong Kong Podiatrists Association introduced the common foot pathologies and shared some tips for foot care. Frank Hung, from the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association - Sports Specialty Group, explained how to deal with hiking injuries.

The theme for this year is ‘ We are Trailwalkers’, regardless of your age, what kind of occupation or physical constraint you are in, everyone can all be Trailwalkers.

The trail starts at Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung and ends at Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club, Tai Tong Holiday Camp in Yuen Long. In teams of four, trailwalkers must trek hills and mountains along the 100 km MacLehose Trail and other trails within 48 hours. Since Oxfam first held Oxfam Trailwalker in 1986, close to 100,000 trailwalkers have participated in the event and have successfully raised a total of close to HK$540 million to support Oxfam's global work in poverty alleviation, disaster relief policy advocacy, including the support for smallholder farmers in developing countries. The fundraising target of Oxfam Trailwalker 2017 is HK$36 million.

About Oxfam Trailwalker: www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk

Oxfam Trailwalker Facebook page: www.facebook.com/oxfamtrailwalkerhk

About Oxfam Trailwalker

Oxfam Trailwalker (previously called ‘Trailwalker’) began in Hong Kong in 1981 as a military training exercise for the elite Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment. In 1986, Oxfam Hong Kong was invited to co-organise the event and in the same year the event was open to the public. Along with the retreat of the Gurkhas in 1997, Oxfam Hong Kong took over the event. Through the years, Oxfam Trailwalker has become the largest fundraising and hiking event in Hong Kong. It will be held in 17 cities in 10 countries, including Hong Kong, this year.

About Oxfam
Oxfam is a worldwide development organisation that mobilises the power of people against poverty.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Benjamin Li
Communications Officer
Phone: (852) 3120 5134/ (852) 9721 5943
Email: benjamin.li@oxfam.org.hk

Alan Ng
Assistant Communications Officer
Phone: (852) 3120 5174 / (852) 9786 2258
Email: alan.ng@oxfam.org.hk