News about Oxfam Canada Trailwalker
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Dear Oxfam Supporter,
I am writing to thank you for your support for Oxfam Trailwalker Canada and to inform you that with regret we have decided to cancel Trailwalker 2013 and redirect our fundraising efforts.
Trailwalker is an extraordinary event that attracts extraordinary people. It challenges us physically and mentally, individually and as team members. It takes us out of our comfort zone and through the beautiful hills and dales, fields and trails of Ontario. And it connects us to the struggles of so many women and men, girls and boys who are pushed daily to their limits to survive and to thrive in a world of increasing inequality and volatility.
In all of this Trailwalker was a tremendous success. An event on this scale is an expensive venture and after four years we have not been able to grow the number of teams to the level required to meet our fundraising needs. Given the difficult financial climate we find ourselves and the growing demands for funding of our development, humanitarian and advocacy efforts, we believe the time has come to redirect our energy and limited resources to fundraising activities that hold the promise of greater returns.
As someone who has completed the 100km, I know firsthand what a wonderful experience it is to cross the finish line, aching and exhausted but also exhilarated and proud. And as someone who has accompanied hundreds of teams as they walked, hobbled or jogged the last few hundred metres, I've been awed by the determination, courage and solidarity I've witnessed.
But at the end of the day, our mission is to end poverty and injustice, promoting the rights and improving the lives of women and girls. And so we have taken this decision with reluctance but also with the confidence that it is the right decision for Oxfam at this time.
We want to thank all those who helped us -- State Street, the Ganaraska Trail, our volunteers and sponsors, the family, friends and co-workers who funded and supported teams, the communities that hosted us. Your commitment and generosity have been crucial to ensuring Trailwalkers were safe and successful, however far they managed to trek.
We hope you will continue to be involved in support of Oxfam. There are many ways to do so. And we are happy to connect those who have developed a hardcore attachment to Trailwalker with Oxfam Trailwalker events all over the world.
Again, our thanks for your commitment and your understanding. Your continued support for Oxfam and its mission is very much appreciated.
In solidarity,
Robert Fox
Executive Director
Oxfam Canada
P.S. With Trailwalker coming to an end in Canada we still want to encourage all of you to participate in our programs; from 3rd party fundraising, our Unwrapped program or our newest partnership with Charity Challenge.
We are very pleased to partner with Charity Challenge to offer you a Trailwalker-type fundraising experience but with a twist. Charity Challenge hosts events all around the globe and is the World's leading fundraising challenge operator. For more than 12 years they have supported many thousands of people to undertake an incredible adventure and in the process helped to raise in excess of $50m for over 1400 registered charities. They organize over 100 expeditions each year and have run more international challenges, and have raised funds for more charities than any other company worldwide!
This year Oxfam Canada has partnered with them and we are promoting in partnership two amazing adventures to Cuba. To learn more about how you can participate please visit Charity Challenge to learn about the Cuban Revolution Cycle OR the Escambray Encounter.
Thank you again for all of your support and we hope to count on you in the future supporting all of our amazing initiatives! We hope to see you in Cuba!
