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Incredible to see people walk voluntarily to support equality: Mandira Bedi on India's biggest walkathon

WION Web Team
MumbaiUpdated: Aug 23, 2019, 05:20 PM IST
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Photograph:(Instagram)

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Oxfam Trailwalker is an environmentally sustainable event and does not harm the environment. Oxfam India partners with organizations for waste management.

One of India’s biggest walkathon Oxfam Trailwalker India 2019-2020 has opened as it gathers support from celebrities who are passionate about their fitness including Mandira Bedi, Milind Soman and Rahul Bose. 

To take part in the walkathon, teams of four can register for the Mumbai and Bengaluru editions of Trailwalker on the official website. This year will mark the 7th edition of the Mumbai event and the 9th edition of the Bengaluru Trailwalker. 

On the event, Mandira Bedi said, "It is incredible to see so many people come together to voluntarily walk for hours to support the cause of equality. It is difficult and challenging. There are millions of people who need support to beat poverty and I congratulate Oxfam for the wonderful work they are doing.”

This year, 100km and 50km trails will pass through the majestic Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Bhor Ghat in the quaint town of Karjat in Maharashtra. The town lies on the banks of River Ulhas. While in Bengaluru, the trail will start from the edge of a beautiful valley in the Nandi Hills. It passes through more than 30 villages, from Sultanpet to Olde Bangalore Resort.

In 2018-2019, almost 1600 people from all across India walked 100km (or 50km) for an equal world. 

Oxfam Trailwalker India is also the biggest team fundraising event in India. Last year, people raised over 5 crores to contribute towards Oxfam India's projects on education, health, gender, forest rights and discrimination in the six poorest states of India (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh). 

"We need fitness lovers to join our fight to end discrimination, to ensure that poor children, particularly girls, go to schools, to advocate for good quality and free government health services, and to provide support for families who have lost everything in floods and disasters. We believe that Trailwalker is an opportunity for those who care about the world, to make meaningful change," said Oxfam India CEO Amitabh Behar, who walked the 100km event with his friends at the Mumbai edition last year.

Oxfam Trailwalker is an environmentally sustainable event and does not harm the environment. Oxfam India partners with organizations for waste management.