The day of reckoning

Hello

We started this blog on 4th December 2007, a week after we started training for the Oxfam Trailwalker 100 KM walk in Melbourne to raise funds for charity. Little we did realize, then as to how quickly time would go by before we got to the actual event. Well, that day of reckoning is here. The event is on this Friday, 11th April 2008 and I am writing this behalf on behalf of the Satyam teams participating in the event to humbly seek your encouragement and best wishes.

We now have three Satyam teams participating in the event. They are the “Satyam Snails”, “Satyam Slugs” and “Satyam Sloth’s”. The “Sloths” were formed just a few weeks ago. As such 12 of us "Brave but stupid souls" are just about to undertake the most gruelling physical and mental team challenge we have ever encountered in our lives. You may ask – why would we do this? Are we crazy?

Not yet. Maybe after walking over 30+ hours in the bush to cover the 100KM, we might appear and behave in a crazy manner for a few hours. That would be because of the delirium and hallucinations the gruelling walk would cause, let alone the pain and agony. We know because we walked 70 kms during a practice session, one of those very hot weekends, on the actual trail and our minds behaved strangely.

Here’s how much money the three teams have raised so far in the fundraising campaign related to the walk, thanks to your support:

Satyam Snails - $6,793
Satyam Slugs - $4,620
Satyam Sloths - $1,293

What does this really mean? What is the big deal about $6,793? (That is the cost of say a big-screen LCD TV and a DVD player and a few movies is it?)

The money we have raised between the three teams (Totally $12,106) will establish a school for 483 children in a remote Indian village and pay for their complete education expenses for one year. Is that worthwhile? Would we walk 100 kms for that? You bet!

Do we want to raise more money to help send 12-year old girls to school instead of picking rags for a living so they can support their families? Absolutely. All it costs is $30 per child per year.

The Satyam Snails are 15th on the overall ladder of top fundraising companies. There are over 400 corporations taking part in the event through 700+ teams of 4 walkers each.

We are very grateful to your contribution and you may like to know that the fundraising campaign will still be open till end of May 2008. The organization that raises the highest amount for Oxfam through this event will get good publicity and recognition throughout Australia. Currently, the team that is leading has raised $18,900. Perhaps you will help put “Satyam” right on top.

We now approach Friday, a little nervous, but eager to start the long walk with that first step. We will start at Jells Park in Victoria at 8:30 am on Friday morning and we expect to reach the Finish point – Wesburn Park, exactly 100 km away sometime on Saturday evening – hopefully still standing on two feet with all our toe nails intact. We have trained hard every weekend under all types of conditions, hot and cold, day and night, for this tough event and we are all hopeful that we will finish. However your encouragement will motivate us significantly during those moments when our bodies might be unwilling. Do feel free to send us e-mails or call us on our mobiles to talk to us. Details are listed below.

Just as you have supported Oxfam to help the needy and underprivileged people of the world, there is a magnificent support crew consisting of several associates from Satyam and our family members that have supported us throughout our training and will continue to do so on Friday and Saturday. We are very grateful and indebted to them.

You may also be interested to read a great write-up on the event in last week’s Age newspaper - http://business.theage.com.au/long-journey-starts-with-a-single-step/20080405-23y2.html

You can donate to Oxfam through any of our teams here:

· www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/melbourne/team/636 (Satyam Snails)
· www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/melbourne/team/637 (Satyam Slugs)
· www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/melbourne/team/705 (Satyam Sloths)

Do see the photo gallery at left to see images from our training sessions.

We will update this blog site after the event on 12th April 2008. Do come back to read about our experience.

Have a great day

Venki Prathivadi