Bernard Chan, Visually-and-hearing-impaired ‘Fearless Dragon’ team,
Christian Zheng Sheng College, Trailwalker veteran KK Chan come to support

The Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 Press Conference was held today (5 November). Special guests attending the event included Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee; Mok Kim Wing, Kim MH, founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team; Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman, Principal of Christian Zheng Sheng Association/ Zheng Sheng College, along with students of the school, who are first-time participants; and KK Chan, Trailwalker veteran and coach of the Christian Zheng Sheng College team.

During the press conference, Oxfam announced that an all new “Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 – Leaders against Poverty Walk” will be launched on the first day of the event. More than 20 business leaders will be joining for the first time.  They will walk from Sai Kung Pak Tam Chung to the pavilion at start of High Island Reservoir West Dam all in the name of putting an end to poverty.

‘This year, Oxfam Trailwalker’s theme is “Partnership. The True Trailwalking Spirit”. A total of 1,300 teams – around 5,200 participants – must walk over 20 hills and mountains in between along the rugged MacLehose Trail and other trails within 48 hours. Facing this daunting 100 km trail with peaks and valleys, a true Trailwalker will never walk alone. Through teamwork and mutual support, no challenge is too big to overcome for these teams of four. This year’s theme also echoes Oxfam’s mission to mobilise the power of people to fight for a world without poverty’, said Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee and also five-time participant of Oxfam Trailwalker.

Mok Kim Wing, who has lost his sight for 30 years, completed the Trailwalker last year with his team in 32 hours and 19 minutes and received the ‘State Street Overcoming the Odds Award 2013’. He said, ‘Even though I will be on the sidelines as part of a support team this year, I hope that I will still be able to encourage more people who have disabilities to come out and challenge themselves through this event. Their example can promote the integration of people with disabilities in society, and through their fundraising efforts, promote the spirit of helping people to help themselves’. The founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team further went on to say, ‘We believe that a loss of sight is not a loss of view, and a loss of hearing is not a loss of perseverance’. He hopes that as the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team joins the Trailwalker for the second time, they will continue to demonstrate their tenacity and finish strong once again in the gruelling challenge.

Participants from Christian Zheng Sheng Association/ Zheng Sheng College will be joining the Trailwalker for the first time. With Trailwalker veteran KK Chan as their coach, however, they are in good hands. The College’s principal, Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman said, ‘I believe that every step students take in this journey will show them what it means to persevere and believe in themselves. Through the trailwalking experience and training they will learn important moral values that will enable them reintegrate into society.’

Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 will be held from 14 to 16 November. Teams will begin in Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung (Start Point) to Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club Tai Tong Holiday Camp in Yuen Long (Finish Point). Oxfam Hong Kong aims to raise HK$31 million in donations this year to support their work against poverty in Hong Kong and around the world.

Oxfam Trailwalker has developed into an international fundraising event. This year, it is held in 16 cities in 10 countries including Australia, Belgium, England, France, India, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Spain and Hong Kong.

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

About Oxfam
Oxfam is a world-wide development organisation that mobilises the power of people against poverty.

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Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, presented an opening speech at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 press conference today

Francesco M. Squillacioti, representative from State Street Corporation, the principal sponsor of Oxfam Trailwalker for consecutively 16 years, presented a speech at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 press conference today.

Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman, Principal of Christian Zheng Sheng College (second from the right), and KK Chan, Trailwalker veteran and coach of the College’s team (far right), give the team T-shirts encouraging the students to complete the 100 km journey together, learn what it means to persevere and learn important moral values that will help them reintegrate into society.

Kim Mok, Founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team (second from the left), and Michael Ng Lap-hong, a Fearless Dragon team member (far left), share stories of teamwork and photos from their training sessions.

Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee (left), Kim Mok, Founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team (middle), and Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman, Principal of Christian Zheng Sheng College (right), at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 press conference.

Francesco M. Squillacioti, representative from Oxfam Trailwalker’s principal sponsor, State Street (back row, third from the left), Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, Kim Mok, Founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team (back row, fifth from the left), Kanie Siu, Director of Fundraising & Communications (back row, far right), KK Chan, Trailwalker veteran and coach of the Christian Zheng Sheng College team (back row, second from the right), and Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman, Principal of Christian Zheng Sheng College.

Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, presented an opening speech at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 press conference today Francesco M. Squillacioti, representative from State Street Corporation, the principal sponsor of Oxfam Trailwalker for consecutively 16 years, presented a speech at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 press conference today. Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman, Principal of Christian Zheng Sheng College (second from the right), and KK Chan, Trailwalker veteran and coach of the College’s team (far right), give the team T-shirts encouraging the students to complete the 100 km journey together, learn what it means to persevere and learn important moral values that will help them reintegrate into society. Kim Mok, Founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team (second from the left), and Michael Ng Lap-hong, a Fearless Dragon team member (far left), share stories of teamwork and photos from their training sessions. Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee (left), Kim Mok, Founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team (middle), and Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman, Principal of Christian Zheng Sheng College (right), at the Oxfam Trailwalker 2014 press conference. Francesco M. Squillacioti, representative from Oxfam Trailwalker’s principal sponsor, State Street (back row, third from the left), Bernard Chan, Chair of Oxfam Trailwalker Advisory Committee, Kim Mok, Founder of the ‘Fearless Dragon’ team (back row, fifth from the left), Kanie Siu, Director of Fundraising & Communications (back row, far right), KK Chan, Trailwalker veteran and coach of the Christian Zheng Sheng College team (back row, second from the right), and Chan Siu Cheuk, Alman, Principal of Christian Zheng Sheng College.