About Oxfam Trailwalker

■Where have the event been held?
■Is it a relay?
■How about the hard weather?
■Is there an age restriction on taking part? How fit do I need to be?
■Do we have to carry our kit for the whole 100km?
■What happens at night?

Participation

■Can I take part on my own?
■What happens if a team member is unable to start?
■What if the whole team decides not to take part?
■What if I cannot recruit a Support Crew？

Training

■How much training is involved?

Cost for participation

■How much will cost me?

Fundraising

■How much do we have to fundraise?
■Why a minimum amount? Surely as a charity you should simply be grateful for whatever we raise?
■Are the Reservation Deposit and Registration Fee in the fundraising total?　How much of the funds we raise actually goes to helping poor people?
■Will you report the usage of the contribution to the individual (team sponsor) who donates it to the team?
■What happens if we don't reach our fundraising target?
■Why are we required to collect minimum fundraising amount before the event?

About Oxfam Trailwalker

■Where have the event been held?
Oxfam Trailwalker has been held in Hong Kong, Australia, UK and New Zealand. In Japan, it was held for the first time in 2007. For details on the international series of the Trailwalker, please check here.

■Is it a relay?
No - each team of four starts together, sticks together and finishes together.

■How about the hard weather?
It will be held in rain, except in severe weather conditions.

■Is there an age restriction on taking part? How fit do I need to be?
Each team-member should be aged 18 years old by the date of the event. Most participants are aged 25-50 but there is no upper age limit. The event does involve sustained strenuous exercise over remote and rugged terrain and, as a participant, you are responsible for your own fitness to take part. Oxfam Trailwalker is challenging, but anyone can do it with good training and preparation. If you are a superfit ultra-athlete, try to build a course record. If you are not, challenge yourself to complete the course within 48 hours.

■Do we have to carry our kit for the whole 100km?
No - You must to carry some essential safety items with you. The basic food and drink is provided at checkpoints along the course. For other items, you are strongly advised to find at least a couple of volunteers to act as your Support Crew. They can meet you there to re-supply you with changes of clothes and food of your preference.

■What happens at night?
Most teams choose to walk through until morning. Walking beneath the stars and then seeing the sun come up the next morning is an unforgettable experience. You are able to rest at Checkpoints, and there are plenty of local accommodations nearby if you want to sleep on the bed (please arrange the accommodation by yourself in advance). But please note that each checkpoint has a closure time, so please take care of your time.

Participation

■Can I take part on my own?
No - for basic safety reasons, Oxfam Trailwalker is a challenge for teams of four. No more. No less. But you don't need to have completely sorted out your team just yet in order to make registration. You need to have a full list of team members one month before the event.

■What happens if a team member is unable to start?
It is important that every member of your team is completely fit for the event. You may substitute up to three team members free of charge right up until April 18, 2008. If you want to substitute the member after April 18, you should cost 2,000 JPY per the changed member. If a member gives up the challenge during the event, the teams with just three members are able to continue, although the results will not count as the official team results even if you finish. You cannot continue with two or one for safety reasons. For details, please check the section on rules and regulations.

■What if the whole team decides not to take part?
If having entered, your team subsequently decides not to take part in the event, it is important you let us know immediately. Registration fee will not be paid back.

■What if I cannot recruit a Support Crew？
Having your own Support Crew is an important safety factor and they will contribute your success of the event. Therefore, we strongly recommend you to have your own Support Crew. If it is difficult, you can still participate in the event as water and simple food will be provided at the check points.

Training

■How much training is involved?
It all depends on where you are starting from and how quickly you want to finish - or at least how far along the course you want to get before it starts to become really challenging! Over the last 25 years, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life have been able to successfully incorporate a good training program into their busy lives. We provide plenty of guidance on this once you have entered the event. Many people find the most convenient thing to do is to simply walk to and from work, gradually increasing the distance and frequency until they are comfortable walking for an hour each way, every day of the week. Suffice to say a little and often is the most sustainable approach. You do not need to run a marathon every weekend between now and the event in order to be able to complete the course. At absolute minimum, you should aim to train at least three times a week, including a steadily increasing longer tramp so that a few weeks before the event you can complete 36kms in ten hours on one day, and then do the same again on the next.

It is also recommended that you set aside some time to train together as a team. At least one weekend a month, starting with one day walks and building up to at least one or two full weekend sessions.

Cost for participation

■How much will cost this?
Entry fee is 60,000 JPY. For safety reasons, you will need some basic outdoor clothing but this need not be either new or top of the range. Teams may have to stay in the area for at least one night to ensure you are properly rested before attempting the return journey, so you will need to organize some accommodation locally. Also you need your transportation cost to reach the start and to go home from the finish.

Fundraising

■How much do we have to fundraise?
However much your team collectively commits to raising. As a condition of participation, the amount is at least 120,000 JPY. Later on you may choose to increase your commitment.

■Why a minimum amount? Surely as a charity you should simply be grateful for whatever we raise? 120,000 Japanese Yen or more! That's a lot, isn't it?
We are enormously grateful when people give a donation and expect nothing in return. And whilst we are equally appreciative that you are interested in taking part, in this case you should naturally expect a well organized event in return for the time and energy you put into the project and this costs some money to get right. Your reservation and confirmation fees help meet these costs. The remainder forms part of the overall value of the funds you raise. As a charity we have a responsibility to your and our supporters to ensure that the funds they donate are used as effectively as possible. Ultimately, the funds invested in the event need to earn a good return so we ask you to commit to raising a certain amount in return for the experience you will receive. As donation for Trailwalker Japan 2007, average fund is about 450,000 JPY (US$3,750). Completing Oxfam Trailwalker is a phenomenal achievement and it should have a fundraising target to match. We encourage you to approach your fundraising in the same spirit of adventure as undertaking the 100km challenge. We believe that the difference you can make to the lives of the world's poorest people gives a real purpose to your participation in the event. It is this that makes the whole exercise worthwhile. For 25 years of Trailwaker history, average funds is about 300,000 JPY (US$2,500). Please also bear in mind that the total is raised by a team of at least four people, so it actually breaks down to 30,000 JPY per person. It is worth also considering that once your sponsors truly understand the enormity of what you are undertaking, they will be extraordinarily generous. For instance your friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues. Finally, more than anything, Oxfam really wants you to succeed at this part of the challenge. Whilst we cannot do your fundraising for you, we can help. We will provide lots of practical guidance, useful support materials and inspiring encouragement, as well as feedback in terms of the kind of difference you are helping make happen. When they look back on all they accomplished on Oxfam Trailwalker, for many participants, their proudest achievement is how much they were able to help others.

■Are the Reservation Deposit and Registration Fee in the fundraising total?　How much of the funds we raise actually goes to helping poor people?
No - this money helps cover the administration and organizational costs of the event. Your fundraising total is in addition to this. Like all forms of fundraising, an event like Oxfam Trailwalker does incur costs. However, as stated above, your team's registration fee help cover the organisational expenses. The remainder of these costs does form part of the overall value of the funds you raise.

■Will you report the usage of the contribution to the individual (team sponsor) who donates it to the team?
In regards of the usage of the collected contribution, it is reported in the Oxfam Annual Report, which will be brought to the participant by July in 2009. Oxfam's activities are also updated on the Oxfam Website at any time. Please inform the sponsors about the organization based on this report. Registering for the e-mail magazine will be more helpful for further information.

■What happens if we don't reach our fundraising target?
Fundraising is an integral part of the Oxfam Trailwalker challenge and it is a good idea to consider this aspect of the event thoroughly right from the start. We want you to succeed at this most of all and will provide you with lots of support including sponsorship forms and inspiring information to support your endeavor. Promising to raise hundreds thousands of yens is a serious commitment to the world's poorest people and we expect you to take that commitment seriously. If your fundraising does not go as well as you had hoped, however, please contact us. We can't do your fundraising for you, but we can help. And the earlier you let us know, the more we can assist you. Your team needs to send the raised fund (at least 120,000 JPY) before 7th May, and pay the rest by 30th June, 2008.

■Why are we required to collect minimum fundraising amount before the event?
We know that collection of fund after completion of event is more common in other countries. However, due to the still developing fundraising culture in Japan, we ask all the teams to send JPY 120,000 before 7th, May, to prevent "free-riders" who join the event but cannot collect funds. We believe in your ability to raise funds, but please understand as a common rule among teams.

Fundraising will also be accepted after the event. (until June 30)

To all participants and support crew – are you ready for the big day?
Below, please find some questions which had been brought to our attention during the information session.
We hope you find them useful.

■Q1 : What is available at the nap spaces? Does the participants need to bring sleeping bags?
A. It is not necessary to bring sleeping bags with you. At “nap spaces” (CP4, 5, 7）you will be provided with simple mats and blankets for the participants’ use.

■Q2: Can the support crew meet the teams in places other than the checkpoints and the parking space?
A. You are free to meet the teams outside the checkpoints provided that you obey all the local traffic rules and are considerate to the hosting communities.
Oxfam Trailwalker is made possible with the help and understanding of the local communities.
Please kindly respect this to ensure that the event continues in the years to come.

■Q3: Can the support crew reserve water for the teams?
A. You can reserve the water for your teams, but please allow other participants to first to have access to water. (* please – NO reserving food for the teams)

■Q4: What information is provided on the information board at each checkpoint?
A. The information board has the times in which the teams passed through the PREVIOUS checkpoint.
You can also locate your team via your mobile phone. Please use the QR codes (bar codes) posted at the checkpoints.

■Q5: Can we use electricity?
A. Sorry, the access to electricity is for the checkpoint staff only. There are checkpoints where you can use fire. Please see the presentation sheets from the information session.

■Q6: How do we receive information in case of emergency during the event?
A. Depending on the type of emergency, we will either contact individual teams and or the support crew as well as all the teams. It is crucial that we have all mobile numbers and addresses from each team. (leader +1 more)
In order to avoid any confusion, please make sure to send Oxfam Trailwalker office with relevant information PRIOR to the event.

■Q7: Can we run on paved roads?
A. You can run on paved roads, but at other locations, please obey the rules set by the local governments. There are staff members out on the course – and please note you may be disqualified if violations are reported.

■Q8: Can we use the luggage service if we are only using it from Start to Finish?
A. Yes, you can use the luggage service provided by JTB only if you will be needing the Minimum services.
For further information, please see here.

* Please do not directly send your luggage to the finish - - the facility cannot you’re your bags until the event.

■Q9: When is the last bus from Lake Yamanaka?
A. From Asahigaoka Bus Terminal (approx. 3km from the finish) 19:35 （reservations needed）
From Hirano bus stop (close to the finish) 17:25

* There will be special Trailwalker buses available during the event to Shinjyuku– 4:00am and 7:00am, on 24th May (2 buses)
For detailed information, please click here.

■Q10: Can we expect all food listed on the “food list” to be available at the checkpoints?
A. Although it may not be the food of your choice, we will provide necessary warm and energy food to keep you going for the journey.