With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels), a Belgian team comprising four walkers, known as the Fairfoxes (with team leader Danny Leysen, Luc Guns, Rudi De Buyser and Patrick Vermeulen) which raised the largest sum of money for charity in the Oxfam Trailwalker event held in Belgium from August 26 to 27 this year, has won the right to take part in the Oxfam Trailwalker in Hong Kong scheduled for November 17 to 19.
      
     The 2017 Oxfam Trailwalker in Belgium was sponsored by the HKETO, Brussels as part of its celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  The first Trailwalker was held in Hong Kong in 1981 as a Gurkha training exercise, before it was taken over by Oxfam in 1997.  The strenuous effort and perseverance required to complete the arduous trail exemplify Hong Kong's can-do spirit.  The Trailwalker has become a popular worldwide fund-raising sports event that takes place in nine countries over four continents.
      
     To promote the exchanges between Hong Kong and Belgium, the HKETO, Brussels, the Oxfam Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways and Hong Kong Youth Hostels Association have jointly sponsored the Belgian team which raised the largest sum of money for charity in the Oxfam Trailwalker event held from August 26 to 27 in Eupen, Belgium, to participate in the Oxfam Trailwalker held in Hong Kong from November 17 to 19. 
      
     The winning team, Fairfoxes, first took part in the Oxfam Trailwalker in Belgium in 2008 and has been a keen participant of the event every year since then.  The Fairfoxes team has now expanded to 15 members, all sharing the same love of hiking and raising money to help reduce inequality and poverty around the world.  Its team members have also joined Oxfam Trailwalker events in other countries, and between them 14 Trailwalker events in total.  

     Team leader Mr Leysen said that the Fairfoxes feel privileged to take part in the Oxfam Trailwalker in Hong Kong, the "original" event.  "We are very proud to take part in the Hong Kong Trailwalker event and we will do our best to show the reciprocal as the Hong Kong young people have demonstrated their "Hong Kong's can-do spirit" in the Trailwalker event in Belgium," he said.
      
     "We are impressed by the diversity and vibrancy of the city, particularly the beauty of Hong Kong's nature.  We will definitely encourage more hiking lovers and outdoor activity enthusiasts in Belgium to visit Hong Kong.  I must say that the MacLehose Trail is not only challenging but also magnificent,"he added.
      
     In August 2017, HKETO, Brussels supported a group of 20 Hong Kong young people at the age of 20 to visit Belgium for a week-long youth exchange programme, which included participating in the 100-kilometre Trailwalker event in Belgium.  All of them vividly demonstrated the Hong Kong's can-do spirit and successfully completed the challenge.

Ends/Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Issued at HKT 1:30

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