The path-pounding,

midnight-hiking,

group-hugging,

life-changing team

challenge across

the South Downs.

TrailwalkerTM UK 2009

Memories of the first 14 hours:

“Brilliant weather on the first

day and an amazing sunset;

the foot baths provided by our

wonderful support crew.”

Emma Terleske

All quotes in this brochure are from

previous Trailwalker participants but

not necessarily those pictured.

Sometimes – maybe just once-in-a-lifetime

– you get the chance to do something great.

To prove something to yourself. To achieve

something amazing.

Trailwalker is one of those times.

It’s an unforgettable journey that will

change lives for ever – including yours.

Four people,

one goal, 100 kilometres

in 30 hours.

Your time starts now!

Sign up today!

The blisters and the ‘buzz’

Trailwalker is tough, it’s true. But

from the time you start putting your

team together, through training

and fundraising, to crossing the

line, yours will be a unique and

unforgettable journey. It will make a

difference to the way you feel about

yourself, your team mates, support

crew, and maybe even life itself!

And most importantly, the money you

raise will make a huge difference to

people all over the world. People who

are working their way out of poverty.

How did it all start?

The first Trailwalker was held more

than 25 years ago by the Queen’s

Gurkha Signals Regiment as a training

exercise. Since then, Trailwalker UK

has grown into a major fundraising

event for Oxfam and the Gurkha

Welfare Trust (GWT). And there are

now Trailwalker events in Australia,

New Zealand, Hong Kong, Ireland,

Belgium, Netherlands and Japan.

The Gurkhas are still a big part

of Trailwalker UK, running the

event in more ways than one – last

year’s fastest Gurkhas finished the

course in 10 hours 13 minutes!

State Street is the principal sponsor

of Trailwalker, and has sponsored

Trailwalker events around the globe.

What is Trailwalker?Trailwalker is a 100-kilometre trek for teams of four – over 30 hours in tough conditions. The route follows the stunning South Downs Way, finishing in Brighton.

Trailwalker tests a range of skills: team work, stamina, endurance, navigation, and self-discipline. It offers you the chance to make new friends, to get out, get fit, and to raise money for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. These organisations share a purpose – to end poverty and change lives for good.

Trailwalker18/19 July 2009

“When I first signed up I really thought

of it as a personal challenge – now I

understand that it is the ultimate team

event. We couldn’t have finished it

without each other – walkers and

supporters alike.”

Clare Hallett

More memories: “Getting caught in

the thunderstorm right on top of the

ridge during Stage 9; that feeling

of ‘Oh my god what am I doing?’

at the half-way point.” Mhairi Coyle

Before

You’ll receive a whole suite of

fundraising and training materials,

as well as online support at:

www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker and a

contact at Oxfam for personal advice.

Plus there’s a preparation session

run by Oxfam and the QGS to give

you the best chance of completing.

At the start

Experience a special ‘night before’

atmosphere, with free camping and feast

to set you up for the challenge ahead.

On the way

We set up checkpoints where you can

meet up with your support crew, receive

emergency First Aid cover, and get

huge motivation and moral support from

Oxfam and the Gurkhas. We’ll even

throw in a hot meal at Checkpoint 7!

At the end

Hot showers, a massage (volunteers

permitting), a genuine Gurkha

curry, drinks, cheering crowds and

a medal for every finisher. Not to

mention a very warm glow and

incredible sense of achievement!

Afterwards

That sense of achievement stays

with you. And there’s a special

Trailwalker celebration evening,

where we give out a great range

of prizes and awards.

So what’s in it for you?You mean apart from the massive sense of achievement, and profound feeling of making a difference in the world? Well, we’ll look after you and your team mates on every step of your Trailwalker journey with heaps of advice, support and facilities.

A team leader and team

Trailwalker is a team challenge –

so first and foremost, you need a

Team Leader who can recruit a

team. Teams of four must sign up

together, start together, and cross each

checkpoint and the Finish Line together.

Training

Most people can complete Trailwalker,

but training for it is essential. Even if

you’re physically fit already, you need to

build up mental strength and stamina,

too. Everyone is different – you need

to learn about yourself and your needs

before the event. How often you need

to drink, how tiredness affects you,

which footwear you prefer, and so on.

Training with your team will help

you to set your pace, and to work

out your roles within the team, and

how best to support each other.

Support crew

You need a crack team of friends and

family to be your support crew. You can’t

complete Trailwalker without one – and

not just because we won’t let you! Your

support crew will supply you with food,

extra water, minor medical supplies,

seats, shade, and encouragement.

You’ll need them to pack your tent at the

start, ferry your waterproofs around in

the middle, cheer you over the finishing

line, and carry you home when you can’t

walk any more. We can’t emphasise

enough how important these people are.

Sole mates

Get the right shoes. Seriously.

Whether you prefer trainers or hiking

boots (or to alternate between them

at different stages), get expert advice

when you buy them. Good footwear can

correct your stride and prevent knee,

hip, and back pain caused by repetitive

impact. Break them in well, have at least

one back-up pair, and make sure your

feet feel loved. You’ll need them to

be on top form.

What do I need?

Time to plan

“I remember the sunset at the top of a long steep

hill near Checkpoint 7 and the lights shining in

the darkness. The Gurkhas were amazing,

as was the whole experience. The pain was

most definitely worth it – it lasts a few days

but the memories will last forever.”

Siobhan Ashton-Cleary

“My memories are of the truly emotional

feeling at the end and the amazing

reception from family, friends and

strangers! The sense that the world was

my oyster – if you can complete Trailwalker,

you really feel you can do anything!”

Ruth Dickson

Who can enter? The only criteria are that you are in a

team of four including a Team Leader;

you have a support crew; and that

all walkers are aged 18 or over on

the day of the event. Trailwalker is

open to teams of friends, colleagues,

corporate teams, family teams,

university teams, all sorts of teams!

How do I get people interested?If the quotes in this brochure aren’t

enough to help you motivate and

recruit your team, there are lots

of resources online at:

www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker

And you’ll receive leaflets to help

you spread the word!

What sort of team mates do I want?Make sure everyone brings a quality

to the team, whether it’s energy,

enthusiasm, organisational skills,

fundraising ideas, map-reading skill,

or an endless stream of amusing chat.

What if a team mate drops out before the event?It’s best to plan for this from the start.

As well as your team of four, get others

involved – as fundraisers, support crew,

or pacers, so if someone drops out, one

of those people may be able to step in.

We all work full-time. Will we have time to train?Most Trailwalkers work full-time and

make it over the Finish Line – and

so can you! Training is often about

quality not quantity, and you need rest

periods between long treks anyway.

Leading the waySome things to consider as you

decide who is best-placed to be

your Team Leader.

It saves time, money and confusion if the

Team Leader acts as the main contact

between your team and the Oxfam office

– to let us know any changes in your

details, for example, if anyone drops out,

and is replaced. Team Leaders need

to be good at co-ordinating fundraising,

training, and logistics. They shouldn’t

try and do everything themselves,

but they need to keep track and make

sure everything is being done.

During Trailwalker, every member of your

team will have a low point when they’ll

really need support – so it helps if the

Team Leader is able to take the lead in

cheering them along.

Your dream team

Closing date

for registering

31 March 2009

Sign up today!

*Places are provided on a first-come-first-served basis.

*

Step up and get goingSo you’re ready to take the next step – to sign up and get started. Here’s a simple guide to help you on your way.

Step 1 Make sure you’ve read and understood the terms and

conditions at the back of this brochure.

Step 2 Recruit your Team Leader and team.

Step 3 Work out your fundraising target – we need to know this when you sign up.

Step 4 Fill out the application form at www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker or

call 0300 200 1244 if you don’t have Internet access.

You will need all the info on the checklist opposite, as well as

your credit card to pay your entry fee of £200 per team

(or £100 before 12 December 2008, £150 before 31 January 2009).

Congratulations! You’re a Trailwalker! Step 5 Start thinking about your fundraising and get it underway,

using all the tips online, including the e-fundraising facilities.

Step 6 Now’s the time to start training. Trailwalker is an unusual event

and it’s hard to find training advice for ultra-distance walks,

so we’ve put together a Trailwalker Training and Safety Guide to

make sure you’ve got all the info you need to prepare for the event.

Step 7 Come to one of our preparation sessions – it’s best if someone from your

team and your support crew come to hear about the event from Oxfam,

the Gurkhas, and walkers who have done it already.

Step 8 By now, the rest of your event kit should arrive – a map and directions

for the route, an Event Guide for you and your support crew.

Getting excited now? Time to plan your meals and get packing!

Step 9 Arrive at the campsite and begin to feel ‘the buzz’.

Step 10 Turn up at the Start Line and have the time of your life!

Closing date

for registering

31 March 2009

Sign up today!

Make a note of all the information below:

Team name

Tier (see overleaf) AND pledged amount

Team type. For example: friends, work, club, other

Name of organisation being represented

Names and addresses of Team Leader, all Team Members, and Support Team Leader

Email addresses of all Team Members

Contact phone numbers: daytime, mobile and evenings

Oxfam supporter number (if known)

Age bracket of team members, ie: 18-25, 26-30, 31-35, 36-40, 41-45, 46-50, 50+

Any special requirements: (eg dietary)

Now go to www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker or phone 0300 200 1244

Team information checklist

Making it all worthwhile –

sports therapy massage

at Trailwalker 2008.

Entries for Trailwalker 2009 are split into

tiers. Choose the tier you wish to enter,

and then choose a specific target for

your team within that tier. For example,

you could choose the Silver tier, and

pledge to raise £4,000. Places within

each tier are limited, so sign up quickly

to make sure you get a space in yours.

If you haven’t done any fundraising

before it can seem daunting, and the

amounts can seem huge. But to help

you along, we’ve developed a special

Fundraising Guide which includes a

sponsor form, loads of ideas, and the

opportunity for online e-fundraising, too.

You’ll be surprised by how much you can

raise – and how much you enjoy doing it.

On average, teams raise around £2,000,

but our top fundraising team ever, raised

more than £20,000!

Your pain. Our gain.Simple really – the more money you raise, the more people you’ll be helping. Fundraising is a challenge in itself, but by doing it as a team you’ll be surprised just how much you’ll raise. And it’ll make every step of Trailwalker feel all the more worthwhile.

Trailwalker 2009 fundraising tiers:Standard £1,500 - £1,999

Bronze £2,000 - £2,999

Silver £3,000 - £4,999

Gold £5,000 - £7,999

Diamond £8,000 +

Tried and trustedSponsorship forms and giving online are still winners.

Bank of England

Matched givingAsk if your employer offers a matched giving scheme, where they will pledge the same total again as you raise for charity.

Bank of England

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Oxfam

Oxfam is a vibrant global movement

of people fighting poverty worldwide –

together. Your money could help us to

provide disaster relief, or help to fund

our long-term development work. Or it

might help with our campaigning work –

pushing for changes that will make the

world safer and fairer for everyone.

What your money can do:

Raise £1,500

And it could pay for 11 Oxfam bicycle

ambulances (pictured right), so that

people in remote villages in Mozambique

can get medical care when they need it.

Raise £3,000

And it could allow the GWT to build

six tap-stands to provide safe,

clean water for a Gurkha village.

Raise £8,000

And GWT could provide an irrigation

system for 312 families, helping them to

grow more to eat and to sell; improving

nutrition, health, and incomes.

The Gurkha Welfare Trust

The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) funds

community projects across Nepal.

For example, GWT works in partnership

with DfID to supply safe, reliable water

and promote good hygiene in rural

villages. Last year, 1,171 tap stands

were provided and 20 school latrines

built – benefiting 14,887 people.

The project is part of GWT’s community

aid programme, which also includes

school building and repair work.

Other beneficiaries

The Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment

have chosen the Army Benevolent Fund

as an additional beneficiary.

World changing stuffThe money you raise will help Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. You’ll be helping tackle poverty and suffering, changing thousands of lives, and giving hope of a better future to poor people, their families, and their communities.

Photo: Soldier Magazine

Above: Running the checkpoints

is just one of the ways the

Gurkhas play a vital role in

Trailwalker UK.

Main: A tap stand funded by the

Gurkha Welfare Trust, Nepal.

Terms and ConditionsThe Eventl Undertake to walk or run 100km in teams along a predetermined route within 30 hours in order to raise, in sponsorship, funds for the beneficiary charities.l Oxfam and QGS reserve the right to alter the course without notice and/or cancel the event in consultation with and under the direction of Emergency Services and major event stakeholders/land owners. If the event is cancelled participating teams can request a 50% refund of their registration fee.

Beneficiariesl Acknowledge that Trailwalker UK 2009 is a fundraising event in aid of Oxfam GB (reg. charity in England and Wales 202918 and Scotland 039042) and the Gurkha Welfare Trust (reg. charity no. 1034080), and The Army Benevolent Fund (reg. charity England and Wales 211645, Scotland SC039189) exclusively.

Roles and Responsibilitiesl Acknowledge that the event is organised by the Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment (“QGS”, the organisers) and is promoted by Oxfam GB (reg. charity in England and Wales 202918 and Scotland 039042, “Oxfam”) in order to raise funds for the beneficiary charities.l Agree to raising as a team the amount stated as the fundraising pledge on the online application form and share collective responsibility for raising this amount.

Fundraisingl Understand that the amount of funds raised by your team does not include the sums paid as entry fees, nor the funds which may be subsequently reclaimed by the charities in Gift Aid.l Agree that all funds raised must be paid to Oxfam GB by Oxfam’s stipulated methods by the fundraising deadline of 30 September 2009.l Understand that failing to meet your fundraising pledge may result in refusal from subsequent Oxfam Sponsored Challengesl Agree that no funds raised will be paid to any charity other than Oxfam GB and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Entry to the Eventl Understand that your application must be submitted before the entry deadline of 31 March 2009.l Acknowledge that entry is worked on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis and that once the event has reached capacity no further applications will be accepted.l Agree that valid details for all four team members must be recorded at the point of application, or the application will be deemed void.l Agree that submitting an entry does not automatically guarantee entry to the event. Your place in Trailwalker 2009 is not confirmed until you have received confirmation from Oxfam GB.

Liabilityl Agree that, while neither QGS nor Oxfam GB exclude liability for personal injury or death caused by their own negligence, you undertake the event entirely at your own risk and will not hold the QGS and/or Oxfam GB responsible for: (a) any damage to, or loss of personal property or (b) any accident or injury which does not result from the negligence of QGS or Oxfam GB arising directly or indirectly or in any manner howsoever out of or in connection with the event.

The Hazardous Nature of the Eventl Understand that the event involves sustained physical exercise in a remote area, and may involve walking at night.l Agree that you are responsible for your own fitness to take part in the event, and for consulting a doctor about your participation if necessary.l Understand that the organisers may need to cancel, halt, delay, or re-route the event in response to hazards including fire, flood, path instability, foot and mouth or other such disease. In such instances, you will be given as much notice as possible, and any necessary alterations will attempt to preserve the nature of the event.

Rules and Regulationsl Agree that you must take part in teams of four people, all of whom must be 18 years of age or more on the day the event starts.l Understand that team members must start together, remain together on the trail and must check-in at each checkpoint and the Finish point together. Team members may not leave a checkpoint until the whole team has reached that checkpoint. l Agree that a team’s recorded time at each checkpoint and at the Finish will be the time of the last team member. l Acknowledge that it is the team’s responsibility to ensure that they have been correctly checked-in at each checkpoint. l Agree that you may not be transported by vehicle along any portion of the trail or between any points on it, unless you have formally withdrawn from the event.l Agree to wear the wristband and identification number at all times during the event.l Do not drop litter. Participants and support crews must respect the environment. Use the litter and recycling bins at the checkpoints.

Registrationl Understand that registration is a mandatory safety procedure and it is each team’s responsibility to ensure that this is completed in good time prior to its allocated start. l Understand that no substitution is permitted after the team has registered. Registration includes an equipment check to ensure that each team member is adequately equipped to take part. l Agree that if you are deemed by the organisers to be inadequately equipped or prepared you may be disqualified on safety grounds. (A list of essential items is given in the Training Guide).l Smokers agree to smoke only in the designated area provided.

Results and Awardsl Agree that only registered participants who complete the 100km trail will receive a medal and certificate. l Agree that only teams that complete the course as a team of four within the 30-hour time limit, and who entered their team into the relevant award category, will be entered into the official results and qualify for the fastest team awards. There will also be an award for the team displaying ‘best team spirit’, ‘the top fundraising team’, amongst others.

Withdrawals and InjuriesBefore the event:l Understand that the entry fee covers the cost of your participation in the event and is non-refundable.l Agree that substitution of team members is permitted until 30 June 2009. All changes must be communicated to Oxfam before this date.During the event:l Agree that any member who is injured or exhausted must be brought to the nearest checkpoint for assistance. If the casualty cannot be moved, one person must stay with them while the remaining members seek help. Under no circumstances is a casualty to be left unattended. l Agree that if you wish to withdraw from the event you must first report to the nearest checkpoint or contact Race Control. l Understand that it is the responsibility of the remaining team members to ensure that the organisers are aware of the withdrawal and may not continue until it has been reported. l Agree that teams of three members will be permitted to start the event or continue in the event if a team mate withdraws somewhere on the course. l Understand that if two team members withdraw, the remaining two may only continue if another team formally accepts responsibility for them for the remainder of the event.l Understand that teams of two may not start the event unless they can be paired with another team of two.

Support Crewl Agree that each team must have a support crew to provide practical and emotional support on the event. l Understand you must organise your own support crew to transport you to the Start and from the Finish and to provide assistance at checkpoints along the trail. l Agree to communicate to your support crew that they must drive safely, and park safely, without hindering the flow of traffic or endangering the safety of participants and other people.

Disqualificationl Understand that failing to wear identification numbers, failing to comply with safety order notices issued by QGS, or acting dangerously or unfairly to gain advantage during the event may result in disqualification.

Marketingl Agree that images and interview material taken on the day of all participants and support crew members may be used by Oxfam to promote Trailwalker and Oxfam Sponsored Challenge Events in the future.

State Street is the principal sponsor of Trailwalker UK. State Street has a long history of involvement with Trailwalker around the globe and has in the past sponsored Trailwalker events in Australia, Hong Kong and Japan. State Street is the world’s leading provider of financial services to institutional investors, with $13.04 trillion in assets under custody and $1.93 trillion assets under management (as of 30 June 2007).

Photographs, other than those already credited: Karen Robinson, Craig Richardson, Richard Wilson, Howard Davies and all other contributors

Cuts heal. Bruises fade.Blisters settle.

But the memories

will last forever.

Get set for the Trailwalker experience and

find photos, video and blogs from Oxfam’s

100km challenges around the world.

Visit: www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker

www.oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker • 0300 200 1244 • events@oxfam.org.uk The Trailwalker Team, Oxfam House, John Smith Drive, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2JY O

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