Andrew follows in his brother’s footsteps

Andrew Doak from Moira Road set up a team of four calling themselves ‘Can We Follow You?’ who will take a 100km trek from the Mourne Mountains to Carlingford on September 1 and 2.

Andrew was part of a support team for brother Mark two years ago and as he watched the jubiliation on his brother’s face, Andrew promised himself that he too would take part in the challenge and raise much needed funds for Oxfam.

“I wanted to get involved when I saw the sense of achievement and elation on people’s faces as they crossed the finish line,” he said.

Andrew who drives for a local haulage/removals company will be joined by his friend Peter Pedlow, a keen marathon runner from Hilden and Bobby Moore from Finaghy, an architect and fellow architect Neil McCarten from east Belfast - both Duke of Edinburgh Award winners.

“We are helping out and raising money for a charity that provides so much for those have so little,” said Andrew. “It’s 2012 and hard to believe that there are people in this world who don’t have clean water.

“The fact that Oxfam do this for so many around the world is worth the pain and effort that we will go through.”

Trailtrekkers is a unique fund-raising event now in its fourth year. Oxfam Ireland’s Events Manager, Grace O’Neill, said: “Sometimes, maybe just once in a lifetime, you get the chance to achieve something extraordinary, to wow your fiends, prove something to yourself and make a difference. Trailtrekker is one of those chances.

“Whether you’re old friends, running buddies or work mates, with the right training and attitude anyone can take part in Trailtrekker. It takes teamwork, determination and will test your stamina to the limits, but the sense of achievement when you cross the finishing line is like no other.

“Not only will you have accomplished an incredible feat as an individual and as a team, you will also have brought 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 vital work in east, central and southern Africa.”

Teams of four commit to raising £2,000 sponsorship, the equivalent of providing temporary shelter for 20 families in an emergency.

For more details about signing up for Trailtrekker 2012, call 028 9089 5972 or visit www.oxfamireland.org/trek.

The boys are also holding a fund raising night in the Lisburn Racquets club Saturday, July 18 at 7.30pm. It will include a quiz, raffle, auction, guess the sweets in the jar and a toss the coin game.

Andrew’s donation page is https://netbel.oxfamireland.org/netcommunity/doaky49ers

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