Trail walking is significantly different from walking on a tar road/ levelled path; so your training should ideally take cognisance of this very fact. Please click here to see what the Mumbai trail has to offer. Click here to find out more about the Bengaluru trail.

We firmly believe that anyone with the right training and attitude can complete the Trailwalker challenge. A young woman fighting Multiple Sclerosis was the part of one of the fastest 50km teams last year. A 4th grade cancer survivor joined us on the trail to show that anything is possible. Our oldest participant was 77 years old last year!

Non-chafing and comfortable training clothes. Make sure your shoes are light and comfortable. Train well to find out what clothes suit your body best. Check out the for more information.

It is up to you. Experienced Oxfam Trailwalkers are divided in opinion on this one, so the best thing to do is start training on the trail and find out what works best for you. Many Trailwalkers prefer to carry spare pairs of shoes so they can switch back and forth during the event. Check out the for more.

Trailwalker is a fundraising event and each team is raising funds to support Oxfam India's work to reduce inequality. The minimum fundraising target per team is INR 80,000 i.e. INR 20,000 per member. Click to read how these funds change lives.

The joining contribution and minimum fundraising amount are separate and hence the former will not be added to the latter. Once registered, every team must raise a minimum of INR 80,000 before the event. Be assured that all the funds raised through the event are used to support Oxfam India’s programmes in the 6 poorest states of the country. Click to know more.

As mentioned above, once the contribution is made, it is considered as a donation and your team will get donation certificates for the same, hence it is not refundable. Upon registering, a receipt along with a donation certificate, will be sent to you via email.

Oxfam Trailwalker is a global fundraising event and all the funds raised at Oxfam Trailwalker India are channeled through Oxfam India’s projects in fighting poverty and inequality all across the country.
The event itself is organised on the outskirts of the cities of Mumbai/Pune and Bangalore, set along rural areas with beautiful yet challenging terrain. In most cases these areas lack even basic infrastructure and require considerable development, setup and groundwork to accommodate the event and its participants.
We aim to cover the expenses for the event logistics with the walkers’ joining contribution INR 20,000/- per team i.e. INR 5000/- per walker).

Also included are the welcome kits and informational material for the event. We also provide an array of additional services at all checkpoints (Start, Finish and 9 checkpoints) on the trail, which include basic facilities such as drinking water, portable toilets, first-aid, tea-coffee and resting areas. The checkpoints also have medical supplies and ambulances available 48x2.

Yes, it is mandatory to raise a minimum of INR 80,000 per team, to be eligible to participate in the walk. Although it may initially seem like a lot of money, among the four walkers, the support crew members and your friends, family, and colleagues, it is not difficult to raise the funds and even exceed the amount! Any team which fails to do so before the minimum fundraising closing date, shall not be allowed to participate.

The first mantra for fundraising is to "ASK". Your friends, colleagues and family members will be more than willing to support you, but you need to ask. Spread the message through your contacts - online and offline - and you will easily cross your fundraising target. But don’t stop there! You can keep going higher, wear your creative hat and come-up with innovative or tested ideas so that you can have fun while going beyond your fundraising goals. We have some ideas for you, click here.

 

Teams need to raise the minimum donation amount to be able to participate in the final event. Both joining contribution as well as donation for pledge are donations and thus, non-­refundable. Even if a team fails to raise the amount in time, the joining contribution cannot be returned; it is a donation towards Oxfam India’s work.

The main tool to raise funds is your online team page. You can upload photographs and post updates about your training. This page is automatically set up when a team signs up and makes the joining contribution. You can reach out to your friends, colleagues and relatives with the page link asking for donations and to follow your progress. Also, you can find a few more ideas on how to raise funds here link to Fundraising page.

Always be mindful of the following tips when you are making donations:

1. Please do not press the refresh or back button during the donation process.

2. Foreigners paying through international cards should scroll down to the bottom of the donation form and choose “only Foreign donors” and follow the instructions.

3. Indian and Non-Resident Indian donors paying through any cards issued within India or abroad should scroll down and choose “Indian or NRI” and follow subsequent instructions.

4. Please keep your credit/debit card handy for payment, with all your passwords ready. This helps in avoiding the 'Transaction has Timed Out' message from the bank portal, in which case the form will need to be filled and submitted again.
    

Here are some common reasons for "Transaction Failure":

Card Bin Stop Listed

Reason: Because of increase in the number of fraud transactions on certain BINs, these are blocked internationally. No transactions will be approved on these BINs once they are blocked.

Remedial Action: Please use another card (issued by another bank) if you face this issue.

Rejected by the Switch

Reason: If your transaction is 'Rejected by the Switch', it means that the transaction has been declined by the issuing bank.

Remedial Action: Please contact your bank to approve the transaction.          

Yes, you can collect donations through cheques for your team fundraising amount. Collect cheques in favour of ‘Oxfam India’. Write details of the donors at the back of the cheque - Name, Email ID, Mobile No., Address and your Team Name, and send it to the respective regional offices.

By Cheque/Bank Draft

For Trailwalker Bengaluru

Please make your cheque in favor of 'Oxfam India' and send it to:

Mallika Tatavarty

Regional Manager-South, Oxfam India
305, Ave Maria, 1st Floor, No.1C, Nehru Road, HRBR Layout, 3rd Block
Bengaluru - 560084, Karnataka

Phone : +91 80 40945155 / 40945166 / 64507192

For Trailwalker Mumbai

Please make your cheque in favor of 'Oxfam India' and send it to:

Jenif Roque
Oxfam India
B-304, Riddhi Siddhi Complex
Near Sukarwadi Bus Depot
M.G Road, Borivli East
Mumbai - 400066, Maharashtra

Phone : +91 22 69000700

You can - it's upto you. If you have any sponsor for your joining contribution, you can share the name of the donor in the donation certificate section, while filling your registration form online.

The Oxfam Trailwalker staff can provide many ideas and resources to help make fundraising easy and fun. Feel free get in touch with us! Check out this page to fundraising page for ideas and resources that will help you with fundraising.

Each team will have its own web page (Teamspace) which you can personalise to share your Oxfam Trailwalker story with the world and inspire supporters to donate. Use your Teamspace to tell your supporters all about your team and your challenge, including stories and photos from the training sessions and the trail, fundraising target and progress, estimated finishing time and all the other details that you will keep adding over time. Participants can also choose to publish feeds on Teamspace from their Twitter and Facebook accounts.

If you can get donors pay online on your team page, it's great. If you have received cheques, you can directly send it to us (See Point 6 above).

Donations made online to teams are issued with an electronic receipt. If you receive an offline donation of more than Rs 500 and the donor would like a receipt, you can process the donation online with your credit card or debit card and the donor's details. Alternatively, send us a cheque and the donor details and we will issue the donor a receipt. For any queries, write too us at friendsofoxfam@oxfamindia.org

Go team! If you meet or exceed your fundraising target, you can always edit your fundraising target on your team page or call and ask us to increase your target so that your supporters know you're still fundraising. You'll be surprised at how much this can encourage further donations. Remember, by this stage you have met your obligatory minimum fundraising amount so why not set yourself an ambitious target? It’s all up to you!

Minimum fundraising deadlines for 2020-21 (INR 80,000 per team) for both cities will be updated soon.

Oxfam Trailwalker India is a bid to bridge the gap of inequality between the more fortunate amongst us and the marginalised. Trailwalker provides a platform for people to not just embark on adventurous journeys of fitness, but to help the marginalised and disadvantaged communities attain a right to life with dignity.  Know more about work.

Please check the spam folder of your e-mail ID for any communication received from Oxfam India. Should you have not received the certificate from Oxfam India, you can to write us at friendsofoxfam@oxfamindia.org.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please click here. We would need details of your interest areas, amount of time that would you like to contribute (pre-event and during event), the location you opt for - Bengaluru or Mumbai/Pune and your contact details.

Yes, minimum age required is 18 years. There is no maximum age.

We need volunteer support for various general as well as specialised tasks such as Trail Marshals, Sweep Team, Database Management, Tele-calling, MC (Master of Ceremony), Photography, Social Media, Yoga and Fitness Experts etc. Once we get the required details from you; we get back to you with the available opportunities based on your areas of interest and your skill-set.

Trailwalker is a 48-hours continuous event and the volunteers are expected to be working at odd hours but in shifts. Therefore, accommodation is not provided. However, we do recommend possible accommodation options near the trail to the walkers, which can be booked in advance, if needed.

Upon confirmation of your volunteering, you will be sent a Volunteer Handbook with all details.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide transport to the Trailwalker start points. Volunteers need to arrange their own transportation to the trail location.

Absolutely not. You will be working in shifts of 8-12 hrs depending on the job role or task requirement.

Behind every great team is an even greater support crew. Support crew members will provide your team with dedicated support and endless motivation throughout your journey. They will be your family for the 48-hour journey helping you with food, sleep arrangements and carrying everything that you may need during the walk. You could not complete Trailwalker without them!

Ideally, your support crew will include people who understand the nature of the event, understand the teammates and their requirements, and have even participated themselves.

We recommend at least two people in each crew - one to drive and one to navigate. You may have more than one crew working in shifts over the weekend, but remember that only one vehicle pass will be issued to each team at the briefing night. Vehicles will not be allowed into checkpoints without the pass, so plan accordingly if you do have more than one crew.

It's important to prepare your crew for the event so they know what's expected of them. They will work very hard and get little sleep so take care of them and they'll take care of you! Please encourage your support crew to read our comprehensive Support Crew Guide. And don't forget to check out the Support crew checklists for everything your support crew will need.

Every team has a maximum permissible time of 48 hours for completing the walk. Our team will be available throughout the 48 hours, but not beyond that.

There are 9 checkpoints along the trail, each approximately 10kms apart. Support will be available only at these checkpoints. You will have access to all basic facilities such as drinking water, portable toilets, first-aid, tea-coffee and resting areas at checkpoints. Medical supplies and ambulances will also be available in case of emergencies.

Your team will be on their own in this adventure. Please follow the trail markings to stay on the right path. You will also have a physical copy of the map, and access to the Trailmate App to keep you from going off-track. For night sections of the trail, we strongly recommend you to walk with other teams.

However, we have complete security arrangements on the trail, with regular patrolling of the trail.

During the event, we will offer resting spaces at the checkpoints. Sleeping arrangements (with mattresses, or spaces to pitch tents) will be available at specified checkpoints. Your support crew is your extended team, who will help you with all necessary arrangements like carrying your tents or blankets for the team.

Please call the emergency number provided on your chest bibs. Our medical emergency team will reach you as soon as possible.

Drinking water, first aid, tea/coffee and porta-loos are available at every checkpoint. Physiotherapy, Nursing and Medical facilities will also be available throughout. Sleeping arrangements are available at specified checkpoints.

As your body can only store a limited amount of carbohydrates, you can increase your store directly before the event by carbohydrate loading. For three to four days before the event, increase your carbohydrate intake, and eat less of high-fat foods as they make you feel full and you won't be able to eat the carbs.
On the morning of the event, eat a high-carbohydrate breakfast 4 hours before the event to top up your carbs one last time. Alternatively, if you have an early start, eat a bigger dinner the night before and a smaller, carbohydrate-rich snack in the morning. Or you can simply be mindful of eating carbohydrates early and consistently during the event to ensure your levels are topped up. This will help you to avoid hitting the wall.

What you eat during the event is a personal decision and should be trialled throughout your training regime. Seasoned participants will have their own proven eating plan. For those new to endurance events, the following are a few basic tips to get you started:
Eat meals and snacks that are high in carbohydrates. Eating every three hours should keep you on track.
- Meals can include sandwiches, wraps, rolls, noodle soups, rice and pasta.
- Snacks can include fruit, pikelets, muesli bars, bread with jam and pretzels.
- Plan when you'll eat because it's often hard to replenish carbohydrates once you’ve hit the wall.

Maintaining the right level of hydration is essential for endurance events like Oxfam Trailwalker. Failing to hydrate sufficiently can lead to significant health consequences like dehydration. On the other hand, over-hydration can result in a severe medical condition called hyponatremia. Have a drinking plan and stick to it, this will ensure you maintain a good level of hydration. Drink to your plan, not to your thirst.

Drinking water and eating carbohydrates and protein is important for recovery. 15 to 30 minutes after the event, have a snack that includes some carbohydrates and protein. This will help you recover effectively. During this time your muscles can easily absorb carbohydrate and protein. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids 24 to 48 hours after the event. Try sports drinks if you need to recover more quickly. Avoid drinking alcohol after the event. It has a negative impact on the recovery of nutrition and on soft-tissue injury caused by exercise.