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Booting up for charity

August 16, 2004

An aptly-named team of hikers, “Arewethereyet” will attempt to walk 100km of rugged bushland in 25 hours to help raise funds for Oxfam Community Aid Abroad.
Mr Anthony Rologas, an IT change manager at the University of New England, will lead a team of four in the annual Oxfam Trailwalker event through Ku-ring-gai National Park, north of Sydney, from August 27 to 29.
He is looking for sponsors to help raise money for the charity and has so far been pledged about $1,300. But his aim is for sponsorship to bring this amount to $5000.

“It is the first time I have entered an event such as this,” Mr Rologas said. “I see this as a real challenge and a good way to raise money for charity.”
Oxfam Trailwalker is held annually in Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong and the UK. It is an endurance event in which teams of four attempt to complete a 100km walking trail within 48 hours. The event started in 1981 as a military training exercise in Hong Kong for the Queen’s Gurkha Signals Regiment and has raised over AUD$40 million worldwide.
All money raised from the event goes to Australia’s leading aid agency, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad.
Oxfam works for social justice and the alleviation of poverty through funding development projects in over thirty countries around the world, including Indigenous Australia.
Mr Rologas and his teammates Roger Batch, David Purser and Selina Stoute, have been preparing themselves for the mammoth trek with endurance walks across the country. They recently traversed 35km across snowy mountains in Canberra.
“It was great fun, exhilarating and good practice,” Mr Rologas said.
When they attempt the main event, each of the team will carry a hydration pack, wear thermal clothes and be equipped with head torches so they can walk through the night.
There are check points along the way with food, first aid and massages.
“Many people taking part in the walk will stop and sleep for several hours, but my team will try to walk through the night, only stopping for half-hour breaks and trying to complete the walk within 25 hours,” Mr Rologas said.
Anyone interested in supporting the team can donate online at www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker (follow the link to ‘Donate’, team #233 ‘Arewethereyet’). Mr Rologas is also offering sponsorship packages for local businesses who may wish to be associated with the team and event.
Those businesses taking out sponsorship will be given a team photograph and certificate of appreciation for their support.
More details, phone Lydia Roberts on 6773 2779
or Anthony Rologas on 6773 3606.

Posted by Lydia Roberts at August 16, 2004 11:04 AM