Can’t let Tiger Nancy get too far ahead!

Now that I’m back in the country, the three Kiwis (none of us locally born, I hasten to add) have begun some serious training. And of course, by serious, I mean more than just practising tying laces … yes, actual WALKING!

We are going to be SO FIT by the time that gad-about Annika returns to our fair shores, we’ll have to give her a half-hour headstart. “Hungry Tiger” (your’s truly) set quite a dashing figure with his hairy legs and sturdy Lekis, but they didn’t seem to give me any speed advantage over Nancy and Amy. We went out one evening and walked the Riverbank from the Waipa Delta up to Hamilton Gardens and back via Fairfield Bridge. Just a shorty to get us in the mood. We’re off again this Wednesday morning (ugghh!) for another bout of punishment. The next major fundraising event is the St Peter’s Cathedral Advent Fete on Friday 30th November between 5pm and 10pm. There’ll be mini-concerts, food, games and much more. Look for our Team Tiger stand, lavishly decorated and equipped by Nancy – artist extraordinaire. If I can get my mobile internet connection going again, we’ll try and provide an opportunity to donate online, so bring cash AND credit cards!!! Whoopee. Go, Tiger, go!!!

Supporters

Amanda was the first – she does not want to do the walk but offered to be in the support team. Thanks Amanda. Will come back to your offer to ensure that we have dry clothes during the walk and enough to eat.

Support team members help finding funding and donations, and support the walkers during the event.

We have an international support team already: Erin and Wendy from Lethbridge, Alberta, joined in. The current list of supporters can be seen on the Oxfam Team Tiger page, upper right corner.

We have a team!

Hurray. Registered the team a month ago, got the confirmation from Oxfam, put in all our details, paid the registration fee. We are in! Team Tiger are Annika, Andrew, Amy and Nancy (German, English, American, Australian but all living in New Zealand!).

This is it: In April 2008 the four of us at Team Tiger will walk 100 km around Lake Taupo in New Zealand in less than 36 Hours.

And not just that: We are going to raise at least 5000NZ$ for Oxfam. So we need your help! At least 80% of all funds donated by you will go directly to Oxfam projects to help some of the world’s poorest people. The remainder is used to make that work possible.

Every three seconds a child dies of poverty. We’re raising funds to help Oxfam save lives. In the 36 hours we have to complete the course, 43,200 infants will die from a completely preventable cause. This is the equivalent of every New Zealand toddler dying in a single weekend. (source: here)

Here are some articles about the Oxfam Trailwalk:

• NZine article about NZ 2007
• Wikipadia Oxfam Trailwalker