Hundreds of people from across Queensland and beyond are set to descend on Mount Glorious this morning ahead of walking or running 100km through Brisbane's hills as part of the Oxfam Trailwalker Brisbane 2019 challenge that raises money to help alleviate poverty.
More than 900 people, about 230 teams of four, will take part in the event. Those in the 100km event will depart Mt Glorious in two waves today at 7am and 8.30am while teams signed up for the 55km will set out at 7am tomorrow, Saturday 22 June, from Lake Manchester.
Cheering on participants at the 100km start line this morning, Oxfam Australia Chief Executive Helen Szoke said teams had to draw on months of preparation, training and support just to get to this point.
"The start line of any Oxfam Trailwalker event is an exuberant place and for those here for the first time, getting to the start line often represents the fulfilment of personal dreams and goals," Dr Szoke said.
"Along the trail they will need to dig deep to carry on through unique physical and mental challenges. What gets teams to the finish line is a lot of support from each other, the Oxfam Trailwalker community and the knowledge they are helping to raise life-changing funds for people in poverty."
Dr Szoke said Brisbane teams had so far collectively raised an impressive $570,000 and were well on their way to the goal of raising $800,000 to help people in poverty around the world.
For one inspiring all-women team setting off this morning, team JFDI100, the decision to sign up to Oxfam Trailwalker came about only shortly after the team met through the Brisbane Startup Ecosystem.
The team, who are all founders of startups or directly involved with helping founders of startups, is made up of Bundaberg's Eleanor Carey, an adventurer who broke two world records last June for rowing across the Pacific Ocean as part of a team of three women; Peta Ellis, the CEO of River City Labs; Ellen Mackenzie, who leads the culture and admin operations of a successful venture capital firm in Brisbane; and Yasmin Grigaliunas, co-founder and CEO of the World's Biggest Garage Sale.
Ms Carey said the team name JFDI100 stood for "Just Forking Do It".
"All of us absolutely adore undertaking huge challenges," Ms Carey said. "The only way you learn how to do things is to jump in the deep end and just go, go, go. It's also for a great cause and the ability to do this as part of a team means you form deeper bonds."
Ms Grigaliunas said the team may have only recently met, but their connection and decision to do the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker and complete it in under 24 hours had already been life changing.
"We feel that 24 hours of time together on the trail is like a month of regular life, so we're looking forward to growing through the experience of doing Oxfam Trailwalker together," she said.
PICTURE OPPORTUNITIES: Photos of teams starting their 100km walk are available from 6am to 8.30am today at Mount Glorious and for the 55km trek on Saturday at Lake Manchester from 6.30am.
