Would you trek 100 kilometres with seven of your work colleagues?
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A group of Port Macquarie Base Hospital emergency department staff members and their spouses are doing just that and all in the name of raising funds for Oxfam.
The two teams of four walkers have to reach a combined $3200 goal just to participate.
Team member, Fiona Ross-Borjeson, says the two teams are looking to complete the walk in 36 hours.
"The two teams of four are predominately colleagues from the emergency department at the hospital," she said.
"We decided to do the walk to, raise money for Oxfam and help bring awareness to world poverty and also to promote wellness and better health while building some camaraderie.
"The teams are called the Trauma Team Trekkers and the Trauma Team Trailblazers - and people can donate to our teams.
"Each individual pays $175 to participate and each team needs to raise $1600 just to start the event."
The 100km walk has a time frame of 48 hours but the two local teams are eyeing off finishing the gruelling event in just 36 hours.
The event starts at Parsley Bay in the Hawkesbury on Friday August 23 and winds its way through national parks before eventually finishing at Tania Park, Manly.
There are eight checkpoints along the trek.
While several members of the teams have completed triathlons, a number are novices in the fitness stakes.
We are very determined and very confident of completing the walk.
- Fiona Ross-Borjeson
Some of the team members have been training for 16 weeks and are currently walking some 40km per week.
"This is helping build our walking fitness and general fitness for the trek," she said.
Spouses and colleagues who have previously completed the walk will act as support crew.
Mrs Ross-Borjeson says that level of support should help get the teams over the line.
"We are very determined and very confident of completing the walk," she said.
"As shift workers we are used to not sleeping so we plan to walk throughout Friday night.
"This isn't about winning but about completing the walk as a group - that's our goal," she said.
"The walk has been compared with Kokoda and it includes several river crossings and climbing wire ladders in some parts.
"So we are up for some heavy going."
The group is also getting kitted up with safety gear in order to prepare as best they can.
"Fingers crossed that if it is raining it is not for the entire length of the walk," she added.
To support the two Port Macquarie teams in their quest to complete the 100km walk, go to the Oxfam website.
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