Bernard Chan, Stephen Fisher,

Visually-and-hearing-impaired ‘Fearless Dragon’ team,

Amputee Trailwalker and Tse Chi Kin come to support

The Oxfam Trailwalker 2013 Press Conference was held in Central today (4 November). Special guests attending the event included Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee; Stephen Fisher, Director General of Oxfam Hong Kong; and Francesco M. Squillacioti, Senior Managing Director, Regional Business Director of Securities Finance, State Street Asia Pacific. Several trailwalkers were invited to share their life experiences and feelings under this year’s theme “Press on through Life’s Peaks and Valleys”. They include Fung Kam Hung, amputee trailwalker; Tse Chi Kin, the elder brother of Masa Tse Ting-chunn, the late tour guide in the 2010 Manila hostage incident and ‘Fearless Dragon’ team, composed of visually-impaired and hearing-impaired athletes who participate for the first time.

“Since 1986, more than 77,000 participants have raised more than HK$393 million for Oxfam Trailwalker, making it the largest fundraising sports event in Hong Kong,” said Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee and also five-time participant of Oxfam Trailwalker. “All Oxfam Trailwalkers face the same daunting challenge – having to go through countless peaks and valleys. But as long as you stay on the path with perseverance and keep walking with your team mates, you will see that all valleys come to an end. This is as true on the 100km trail as it is true in life.”

The success of Oxfam Trailwalker is the concerted effort of all sponsors, supporting organizations and volunteers, including State Street, the principal sponsor that has supported Oxfam Trailwalker for 15 consecutive years. “Our support for Oxfam Trailwalker reflects our heritage of corporate citizenship,” said Francesco M. Squillacioti, Senior Managing Director, Regional Business Director of Securities Finance, State Street Asia Pacific. “As the principal sponsor, we are harnessing the power of more than 29,000 employees in 29 countries to support Oxfam’s mission of overcoming poverty and injustice worldwide.”

Kim Mok, founder of ‘Fearless Dragon’ team who has lost his sight for 30 years, said, “We believe that a lossof sight is not a loss of view, and a loss of hearing is not a loss of perseverance.. We will take the grueling trail as a demonstration of our own strength and as a challenge against our physical limitation, with a view to promote the integration of people with and without disabilities.”

Fung Kam Hung, amputee trailwalker who will participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time, said, “I can still remember the first time when I participated in Oxfam Trailwalker, that I had to deal with the blisters when I had finished 70km only. Even worse last year was that my old wound on the skin where the artificial limb is attached to hurt a lot when walking on the slippery trail due to heavy rain. The first aiders wrapped my wound with the strongest plastic tape tightly so as to avoid bleeding by friction. Despite all the difficulties, I finished the trail in 26 hours. I will try harder this year, hoping to achieve even better record.”

Tse Chi Kin, the elder brother of Masa Tse Ting-chunn, the late tour guide in the 2010 Manila hostage incident, will also participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time and would like to encourage the public to be more optimistic. “The theme of Oxfam Trailwalker this year, “Press on through Life’s Peaks and Valleys”, reflects my feeling and states the belief that one should have. Trailwalking is just like a life’s journey. The future is unpredictable, yet I believe we can make it through if we hold on to our faith and stand firm on our belief,” said Tse.

Oxfam Trailwalker has developed into an international fundraising event. This year, it is held in 16 cities in 11 countries (including Hong Kong) including Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney), Belgium, England (South Downs, Yorkshire Dales), France, Germany, India (Bangalore), Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and Spain. The event is held in Perth, Australia and Mumbai, India for the first time this year.

Oxfam Trailwalker 2013 will be held from 15 to 17 November. In teams of four, 4,800 participants have to complete the 100km East-West trail across Hong Kong within 48 hours, from Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung (Start Point) to Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club Tai Tong Holiday Camp in Yuen Long (Finish Point). it is targeted to raise HK$30 million in donations to support Oxfam Hong Kong's work against poverty in Hong Kong and around the world.

For more information on Oxfam Trailwalker:

Website http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk

Facebook www.facebook.com/oxfamtrailhk

About Oxfam

Oxfam is dedicated to fighting poverty and inequity worldwide. The international and independent development and humanitarian organisation tackles poverty in four main ways: sustainable development in poor communities, disaster relief, local, national and global advocacy, and education with Hong Kong youth. Established in Hong Kong in 1976, Oxfam Hong Kong is a founding member of Oxfam, an international confederation that has assisted poor people in 94 countries. Oxfam Hong Kong alone has supported poor people in over 70 countries/regions.

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Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, presented an opening speech at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2013 press conference today

Francesco M. Squillacioti said, “As the principal sponsor, State Street is harnessing the power of more than 29,000 employees in 29 countries to support Oxfam’s mission of overcoming poverty and injustice worldwide.”

Fung Kam Hung (left), amputee trailwalker who will participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time, thanked the support from his wife (right) and hoped to achieve even better record.

Tse Chi Kin, who will participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time, shared the power of his family support and would like to encourage the public to be more optimistic.

Tse Chi Kin, who will participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time, shared the power of his family support and would like to encourage the public to be more optimistic.

Michael Ng (left, hearing-impaired trailwalker), Kim Mok (middle, visually-impaired) and Alsa Kwok (right, visually-impaired), members of Fearless Dragon team, believed that a loss of sight is not a loss of view, and a loss of hearing is not a loss of perseverance. They will take the grueling trail as a demonstration of their own strength and as a challenge against their physical limitation, with a view to promote the integration of people with and without disabilities.

(From left to right) Kanie Siu (Director of Fundraising & Communications, Oxfam Hong Kong); Kim Mok (visually-impaired trailwalker); Alsa Kwok (visually-impaired trailwalker); Michael Ng (hearing-impaired trailwalker), amputee trailwalker Fung Kam Hung; Mrs Fung; Bernard Chan, Francesco M. Squillacioti from State Street; Tse Chi Kin; Stephen Fisher (Director General, Oxfam Hong Kong) gathered for a group photo.

Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, presented an opening speech at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2013 press conference today Francesco M. Squillacioti said, “As the principal sponsor, State Street is harnessing the power of more than 29,000 employees in 29 countries to support Oxfam’s mission of overcoming poverty and injustice worldwide.” Fung Kam Hung (left), amputee trailwalker who will participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time, thanked the support from his wife (right) and hoped to achieve even better record. Tse Chi Kin, who will participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time, shared the power of his family support and would like to encourage the public to be more optimistic. Tse Chi Kin, who will participate in Oxfam Trailwalker for the third time, shared the power of his family support and would like to encourage the public to be more optimistic. Michael Ng (left, hearing-impaired trailwalker), Kim Mok (middle, visually-impaired) and Alsa Kwok (right, visually-impaired), members of Fearless Dragon team, believed that a loss of sight is not a loss of view, and a loss of hearing is not a loss of perseverance. They will take the grueling trail as a demonstration of their own strength and as a challenge against their physical limitation, with a view to promote the integration of people with and without disabilities. (From left to right) Kanie Siu (Director of Fundraising & Communications, Oxfam Hong Kong); Kim Mok (visually-impaired trailwalker); Alsa Kwok (visually-impaired trailwalker); Michael Ng (hearing-impaired trailwalker), amputee trailwalker Fung Kam Hung; Mrs Fung; Bernard Chan, Francesco M. Squillacioti from State Street; Tse Chi Kin; Stephen Fisher (Director General, Oxfam Hong Kong) gathered for a group photo.