This year marks the 35th anniversary of Oxfam Trailwalker, the largest hiking fundraiser in Hong Kong, which will be held from 18 to 20 November, 2016. The theme this year is ‘Keep on Trailwalking’. 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 and a physiotherapist 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. Frank Hung, from the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association - Sports Specialty Group, explained how to deal with hiking injuries. Frankie Tong, an experienced trailwalker, also gave some tips based on 14 years of trailwalking experience and how he trained new participants for this year’s event. Vivien Cheng, Director of Community Partnership of the Green Earth, also talked about the environmental measures of the event this year.

As Oxfam and walkers celebrate the event’s 35th anniversary, Oxfam is calling on all trailwalkers who participated in the event over 20 years ago to contact them and share how they have passed the trailwalking spirit on to the next generation.

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 over HK$500 million to support Oxfam's global work in poverty alleviation, disaster relief and policy advocacy. The fundraising target of Oxfam Trailwalker 2016 is HK$35 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 15 cities in 9 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:

Cindy Chan
Communications Office
Oxfam Hong Kong
Phone: 3120 5201/ 6749 6230
Email: cindyc@oxfam.org.hk