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Press Releases & Updates

07 NOV 2012

Oxfam Trailwalker brings changed lives and broadened perspectives Bernard Chan and Stephen Fisher host Oxfam Trailwalker 2012 Press Conference

Oxfam Hong Kong representatives and several Oxfam Trailwalkers gathered today to celebrate changed lives at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2012 Press Conference held in Central today (7 November). Besides Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee and Stephen Fisher, Director General from Oxfam Hong Kong, several participants were there to share on the theme “Life Changes with Oxfam Trailwalker”. They included veteran “Super Trailwalker” Chan Kwok Keung, amputee trailwalker Fung Kam Hung, and the father and elder brother of Masa Tse Ting-chunn, the late tour guide in the 2010 Manila hostage incident, Tse Hon Ming and Tse Chi Kin. Together with the younger brother Tse Chi Hang, they will join the event as a team for the first time this year.

“Oxfam Trailwalker is a life changing experience. To complete the arduous 100km trail, participants need to start training ahead of time, changing their daily routines to get themselves well prepared for the event. It is not just about challenging one’s own stamina, it is also about supporting each other as a team,” said Bernard Chan.

“Our support for Oxfam Trailwalker since 1999 reflects our heritage of corporate citizenship. By giving out the State Street Overcoming the Odds Award, State Street would like to commend an outstanding walker who has overcome many obstacles and difficulties to complete the 100km trail,” said Thomas Lynch, Senior Vice President, Head of Enterprise Risk Management, State Street Asia Pacific and General Manager of State Street’s Hong Kong branch.

As Oxfam Tailwalker has evolved into a major international event over the years, it has also brought about significant changes in the lives of veteran walkers like Chan Kwok Keung, who has participated in Oxfam Trailwalker in Hong Kong and overseas for 25 times. “The core spirit of Oxfam Trailwalker – determination and perseverance – has been integrated into my everyday life. With broadened perspectives, I know any great difficulty that I encounter in life will eventually be solved,” said Chan Kwok Keung.

Amputee fighter Fung Kam Hung is the winner of the State Street Overcoming the Odds Award last year. “Inspired by my wife, I participated in Oxfam Trailwalker for the first time last year. Due to bad weather, every step was a challenge. But we were finally able to finish the trail. After that experience, I am no longer afraid of anything. This year, I’m joining the event with a whole team of amputee athletes. With the belief that ‘disability is power’, we hope to bring positive energy to all those who are physically challenged,” said Fung.

Like Fung, Tse Chi Kin, the elder brother of Masa Tse Ting-chunn, also wants to emit positive energy through participating in this event as a family. “Oxfam Trailwalker has drawn us – father and sons – closer together. Life is just like the Trailwalker event; we are faced with all kinds of uncertainties. But as long as we keep the faith, we’ll be able to complete the journey,” said Tse.

Oxfam Trailwalker has successfully developed into an international fundraising event. More than 22,000 walkers will participate in 15 events this year in 12 countries including Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney), Belgium, Canada, China (Hong Kong), England (South Downs, Yorkshire Dales), France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand and Spain. The events will raise more than US$18 million (about HK$140 million) for Oxfam’s international development and humanitarian work.

Oxfam Trailwalker 2012 will be held from 16 to 18 November. In teams of four, 4,800 participants aim 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). Walkers will help raise HK$30 million in donations to support Oxfam Hong Kong's work against poverty.

For more information on Oxfam Trailwalker:
Website http://www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.hk
Facebook www.facebook.com/oxfamtrailhk

END

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 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.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Cindy Chan
Communications Officer
Oxfam Hong Kong
Phone: 3120 5201 / 6749 6230
Email: cindyc@oxfam.org.hk

Melanie Chan
Communications Officer
Oxfam Hong Kong
Phone: 3120 5175 / 9654 2048
Email: melaniec@oxfam.org.hk