500+ hikers hit Ganaraska Trail in support of Oxfam Canada

BARRIE, Ont. – More than 120 teams are taking on a challenging 100 km hike through the Ganaraska Trail for a fundraiser expected to raise $500,000 for Oxfam Canada’s emergency relief and development work in Africa, the Americas and Asia.

More than 1,000 people, including volunteers and support crews, are visiting the Barrie-Orillia area this weekend for the annual event.

The trail has been completely retooled this year, allowing us to challenge participants with ski hills and forest tracks while still showcasing the beauty of the area,” said Jan Munro, Project Lead for Oxfam Trailwalker Canada 2010. “The number of teams has nearly tripled since last year’s event, meaning more than 500 people will be running, hiking and walking through Simcoe County forest.

Already the event has raised $320,000. Donations will continue to be accepted until Aug. 31.

Trailwalker is a personal challenge for participants, but walking dozens of kilometers is something the women we work with do every day, said Oxfam Canada Executive Director Robert Fox, who will participate in this year event. It's a chance for hikers to connect with the work we do while proving to themselves that they can commit and endure.

Teams set off on Friday, July 23 at 9 a.m., departing from Minesing's Snow Valley. They'll hike through Simcoe Country Forest and must stay together, checking in and out of checkpoints along the route and finish together within 48 hours, ending at Tudhope Park in Orillia.

The route will keep hikers mostly on single and double-width tracks in the bush, but at least 15 per cent of the track is on road, pavement or gravel. Residents living near the checkpoints will notice an upsurge in traffic as support crews meet up with hikers passing through parts of Doran Road, Midhurst, Craighurst and Bass Lake.

The 520-plus walkers range in age and come from all over Canada as well as Australia, the UK, Wisconsin, Texas and Hong Kong.

The first Trailwalker took place in Hong Kong in 1981 as a military training exercise. Over time, Trailwalker has become one of Oxfam's biggest fundraisers, with massive success annually in Hong Kong, the UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Belgium. It has raised more than $70 million worldwide to support Oxfam’s work.

For further information, please contact:
Karen Palmer 
Oxfam Canada Media Officer 
karenp@oxfam.ca  
613-240-3047