On the weekend of April 14th/15th David Wheeler, a Unite delegate from ADT, did a 100km walk for Oxfam, an organisation that raises funds to stop poverty and injustice worldwide.
Called Oxfam Trailwalker the event was held in Taupo, covering farmland, bush, forest and some roads. There were around 200 teams of 4 people, and each team had to stay together for the duration.
Each team had to raise money by sponsorship and/or events. David was part of the team “Flynnbo Seniors” and they managed to raise nearly $5000 in sponsorship.
This event requires some good fitness and David’s training started in December, requiring night walks, fitness trails and hard tramps in the Waitakeres. Also each team had a support crew which would meet the walkers at the 7 checkpoints with food, drink, change of footwear, clothing etc. Their support was invaluable.
Teams had 36 hrs to complete the walk. The Flynnbo Seniors completed the walk in 23 hrs, 52 mins. When the team finished they could hardly walk as bad blisters and sore knees took their toll, they felt weary rather than any feeling of being puffed out like you would after a run.
”This is a one-hit wonder” David said shortly after the walk.
The walk started at 8am on the Saturday and walkers kept going through the night. Surprisingly it was not too cold on that section. Soup, pasta meals, tea and coffee, and cookies were welcome reprieve at the checkpoints, but most walkers would not spend more than 20 mins at each checkpoint as once they stopped for too long it was very hard to get going again.
David said his ADT work collegues were very generous in sponsorship and text messages through the day and night.
“I do not want to walk for 3 days, just loaf about” was one of David’s comments the next day. Most teams spent the Sunday night in Taupo and returned home on the Monday.
A good sense of achievement and doing something different were the main reasons David decided to take part this venture. Pork chops was on the menu Sunday night with a few well-earned beers.