A group of keen Western Bay trampers braved icy temperatures, sleep deprivation and aching muscles during a 100km walk to raise money for Oxfam. It took 27 hours for Ron Lopert, Jo Wills, Kern Mangan-Walker and Geoff Winchester to complete the annual Oxfam Trailwalker 2009 event starting at 7am on Saturday. MicheleWinchester was supposed to take part in the event, which attracted more than 300 teams, but suffered shin splints so her husband took her place. Mr Lopert described the journey as ``extremely gruelling'. "I guess we didn't realise how hard it was going to be," he said. "Our muscles were very, very sore. I'm still feeling it a bit." Starting at the Taupo Information Centre, teams walked to Huka Falls, through Kinloch, towards the Napier-Taupo Highway, along the lake front, finishing at the information centre. The Tauranga group, called Trade Aid Tauranga because of the team's mutual involvement in the Devonport Rd charity store, stopped for just two hours about three quarters of the way into the walk, west of the Huka Falls. "We were told by the organisers not to rest for too long because our muscles would freeze up," Mr Lopert said. "It was freezing as well." The group had hoped to finish the course by 9am Sunday but clocked in at 10.11am. Teams had to finish the walk within 36 hours. Kern Mangan-Walker was the only member of the group not to finish the journey, due to severe blistering. The team has so far raised $1400 of the $2500 they hope to raise by June 15, which will go to Oxfam New Zealand's humanitarian, development and advocacy work. To donate to Trade Aid Tauranga's fundraising efforts go to www.oxfamtrailwalker.org.nz. and search the team name.
