Calling all trekker in East Antrim

For all those looking for a rewarding challenge, Oxfam Ireland is now recruiting teams from East Antrim for Trailtrekker 2012, an inspirational non-stop 50km/100km team event that aims to raise thousands of Euro to support Oxfam’s work in East, Central and Southern Africa.

From complete novices to seasoned hill-walkers and adventure race participants, teams of two and four people will take on the tough but rewarding challenge through the Mourne Mountains to Carlingford on September 1 and 2.

Christopher Rafferty from Newtownabbey, who is participating in the 100km trek for the first time in 2012 said: “It would be hard to make the sacrifice if it wasn’t for a cause, the cause is so important.”

Teams of four will commit to raising €2,000, the equivalent of providing temporary shelter for 20 families in an emergency, and teams of two will commit to raising €1,000, the amount needed to provide an irrigation scheme that supplies safe drinking water to 1,000 people.

Each team has the option of completing a distance of 50km or 100km. Teams competing in the 50km event will be expected to complete the distance in less than 16 hours and those registered for the 100km distance will be expected to finish in under 36 hours.

Oxfam Ireland’s Trailtrekker is part of a growing worldwide phenomenon of 15 events in 12 countries. Supported by global sponsor, State Street Corporation, the Oxfam Trailtrekker and Trailwalker events are a unique fund-raising effort that supports Oxfam’s mission to empower individuals, communities and organisations to create a future that is secure, just and free from poverty.

William Slattery, State Street Executive Vice President and Country Head of Ireland, said the Oxfam Trailtrekker and Trailwalker events around the world unite the passion of their employees.

“Staying true to one of our values — ‘Global Force, Local Citizen’ — our sponsorship makes us a global force for good in our local communities by contributing towards Oxfam’s mission to end world poverty,” said Mr Slattery.

“State Street sponsored its first Trailtrekker event in 1999 and since then, thousands of employees around the world have participated in these endurance events, as walkers and as volunteers. Last year, 70 of our employees took part in the Trailtrekker 2011 event and we look forward to having even more of our Irish employees participate this year.”

Trailtrekker is now in its fourth year in Ireland and Oxfam Ireland’s Chief Executive, Jim Clarken, said that State Street Corporation makes a very important contribution to Oxfam’s work through this partnership.

“We are very fortunate to have been working with State Street for a number of years and we are delighted that this year State Street has come on board as the first global sponsor of Oxfam’s 15 Trailtrekker and Trailwalker events, widely considered one of the world’s toughest charity team challenges.

“State Street’s Willie Slattery joined me on a field visit to our programmes in Tanzania last year. There, he witnessed how State Street’s support is helping to bring hope and deliver real change to lives of people affected by poverty.

“State Street has been far more than a sponsor but also a genuine active partner in all elements of the Trailtrekker event.”

Other partners that help to make Trailtrekker a success include 53 Degrees North, O’Briens, Louth County Council, Newry and Mourne District Council and Down District Council.

For more details about signing up for Trailtrekker 2012, call 01 635 0403 (ROI) and 028 9089 5972 (NI) or visit www.oxfamireland.org/trek

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