■What made you decided to participate in Oxfam Trailwalker Japan 2007?

Trailwalker in Hong Kong is a big event every year. Thousands of hikers submit their application and wish to join, but only 950 teams are available, even you can form a team successfully and can promise to raise enough money for Oxfam, it doesn’t mean you get a place automatically. The teams are chosen by random draw and if you win the chance to join Hong Kong trailwalker, it is like winning a small lottery.

So when I know no lottery in Japan Trailwalker and every one registered can participate, I am really excited and tell this good news to other hiking friends immediately!

Completing trailwalker with my teammates is an achievement and interesting experience. It is not only a charity event, but also like a race and a competition, you set a target time and try your best to fulfill it. In Hong Kong Trailwalker, finishing within 30 hours can be treated as a good result, you will be proud if you tell others that you can do it within 30 hours.

You will have a greater sense of achievement if your result can shorten your finishing time progressively every year.

■What is the most wonderful experience in the event?

I think the whole experience is wonderful and memorial, especially for the first time hiker. The most wonderful thing for me is when I reached a checkpoint after covering a long distance, I can get a freeze coke from my support team. The weather is so hot and sunny, this is probably the best coke I had ever in my life.

The hardest thing is to overcome tiredness and sleepiness. Tiredness makes you more vulnerable to injury, especially when you walk down the mountain.

At 2004 trailwalker, two of my teammates get their knee hurt at around 75KM and our walking pace become much more slower afterward and I need to help one of my teammate take backpack and encourage them not to give up in the last phrase.

I am lucky that the two Oxfam trailwalker I participated the weather is not bad and no rain.

■How did you do fundraising? What was the most effective way?

It is not difficult to raise fund in Hong Kong, because trailwalker has long history and good reputation in Hong Kong. Almost everyone heard the name of trailwalker. My colleagues, boss and friends are all willing to donate money.

■How did you do training? What was the most important point?

Actually most of my training took place in stadium and gymnasium by running because it is not so easy to arrange a group hiking together often.

For the beginner, I would suggest they can try to hike 10 to 20 Kilometers first, and increase the distance gradually week by week, until you have confident to walk more than 50 kilometers. They also need to try walking in the dark overnight.

The most important is don’t push yourself too hard and be careful. Once you are injury, you cannot participate the trailwalker!

■Is there anything you recommend to carry during the event?

Trekking pole, mobile phone and LED head-lamp are a must. Trekking pole can release the strain in your knee when you walk uphill and downhill, without trekking pole, your knee and leg will feel tired earlier. I even use two trekking pole.

Don’t carry too many things. Leave as many as possible to your support team and ask them to give you in the check point. Water is heavy and you can get it in each checkpoint so please don’t load too much water.

■Did you ask the support team to help you? What do you think about the support team?

In 2004, I had a very good support team, they brought me good food, cold drinks, running shoes and clean clothes at some checkpoints. It can raise up your spirit. The food provided by Oxfam actually is very simple, if you only depend on the food in checkpoints, it probably will make you don’t want to eat any more in last few checkpoints.

Of course Hong Kong is a small city, traveling is convenient and not so difficult to arrange support.

Trailwalker is an exciting and challenging event, everyone should participate in his or her life, you will love it and enjoy it!