By
Andrew Stackpool
FLIGHT
Lieutenant Mark Camilleri plans to put the concept of thinking
globally and acting locally to effect when he attempts to run
100km within 24 hours to raise money for charity.
With three colleagues, Army Captains Pat Heffernan and Rob Fazekas
and Lieutenant Nick Griffiths, he is endeavouring to raise a
minimum $1000 for Oxfam Community Aid Abroad at the Oxfam Trailwalker
Sydney 2004.
The
marathon event will be held from August 27-29.
The teams will run from Hunters Hill on the Parramatta River west
of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Manly on the coast.
FLTLT Camilleri, OIC Chemical Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Defence section at Moorebank, said each team was required to pay
a $400 entry fee and then raise $1000 for charity – $250 a team
member.
“Our team is called FSB and is team No. 37. A lot of my friends
see this as my next crazy act, along with my three crazy mates,
but I am hoping we can run the 100km within 24 hours. People may
think that is impossible.
Well, let’s see. “This is a little bit of fun for us. By no stretch
of the imagination are we professionals. “I compete in service
triathlons and distance running and the other guys do their own
fitness, primarily rugby.
“We are all extremely busy running courses at SME and haven’t
had a chance to train together. Rather, we train as individuals
when time allows.”
The Oxfam Trailwalker is a challenging endurance fundraising event
in which teams of four complete a 100km trail through bush terrain
in less than 48 hours.
The event originated in Hong Kong in 1981 as a military training
exercise for the Gurkhas. Since then it has become a major international
event held in Hong Kong, Melbourne and Sydney.
It has raised nearly $45 million, with thousands of people participating
every year. Anyone who wants to assist the team should contact
FLTLT Camilleri on (02) 9600 1730. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Anyone else who may wish to enter a team can find further information
on:
http://www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/index.html
Further information on Oxfam Community Aid Abroad
may be found at http://www.oxfam.org.au.
