Run For Your Life Projects

On November 7, 2008 the Team Pinoy Ultrarunners will join one of the toughest team challenge events in the world – the Oxfam Trailwalker, a 100-kilometer run and walk competition in Hong Kong.

Participants form a team of four members each to complete the 100 km MacLehose hiking trail across the mountain ranges of the New Territories within 48 hours.

Of the 980 teams competing in Trailwalker Hong Kong, a team

from the Philippines was chosen to participate. Coming from divergent backgrounds, the Pinoy Ultrarunners is bounded by their love for adventure and the sport of running. The team is composed of property underwriter Jose de Vera (team leader); orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paolo Punsalan; neurosurgeon Dr. Peter Rivera andthe only female, Sagip Kapamilya Manager Jocelyn Saw.

Together they are taking up the challenge to finish the race and raise at least HK$6,500 donation for Oxfam.

The event was formerly a military drill for Gurkha soldiers before 1986. Trailwalker was opened

to the public in 1986. Oxfam Hong Kong, an independent development and relief agency, began to co-organize the event in the same year. In 1987 Queen Gurkha Signals invited Oxfam Hong Kong to help them to raise more charity and since then Oxfam has raised funds for The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam.

The Pinoy Ultrarunners have participated in several ultra marathons (distance of 100kms). Their advocacy is to promote the sport and to raise funds and awareness for cause-oriented groups. One such group is Kythe, a foundation to help children with cancer. The team decided to take part in the Oxfam race since it follows the goals of the team in developing running and its involvement in fundraising for cause-oriented groups. Moreover the spirit of Oxfam coincides with the team's motto, “Help Change Lives a Kilometer at a Time”.

You can support the team!!!

You can visit the Oxfam and donate directly for the team. This is for a good cause which will help a lot of people in need. To visit the website please click here.

You can also buy the Pinoy Ultra Runners Lanyards in R.O.X at Fort Bonifcaio High Street. Proceeds will go directly to the projects of the Pinoy Ultra Runners one of which is the Oxfam project. You can also contact us if you wish to purchase more limited edition lanyards.If you want to be a corporate sponsor and help out with donations, please contact us at pinoyultraruners@yahoo.com.

More facts about Oxfam

Trailwalker was first started in 1981 in Hongkong as a Queens Gurkha Signals regimental exercise which became so popular that it eventually started to raise funds for The Gurkha Welfare Trust. The event is held annually on the MacLehose Trail, a 100 km hiking trail across the mountain ranges of the New Territories.

Oxfam Trailwalker Hong Kong is the first Trailwalker in the world. Other countries like UK, Australia and New Zealand follow the Hong Kong model closely. In 2008 for the very first time Belgium is also organising Trailwalker in their country.Since 1986, more than 42,000 Trailwalkers have raised over HK$ 158 million to support Oxfam's various poverty alleviation and emergency relief projects.

Participants form a team of four members each to complete the 100 km MacLehose Trail within

48 hours. The event was formerly a military drill for Gurkha soldiers before 1986. Trailwalker was opened to the public in 1986. Oxfam Hong Kong began to co-organise the event in the same year. In 1987 Queen Gurkha Signals invited Oxfam, Hongkong to help them to raise more charity and since then Oxfam has raised funds for The Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam.

The record time 11hrs. 57mins. was set in 2004 by the team "Securicor".

The 2007 winning time was 12hrs. 24mins. by "Fire Services Team Beyond Limits".

facts retrived in this source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxfam_Trailwalker