Trail 2016 : Walk. Unite. Heal.
Trail is a 670 km, 28-day long walk from Point Pedro in the North to
Dondra Head in the South of Sri Lanka, with the objective of honouring
and helping those fighting cancer. The founders of Trail, Nathan
Sivagananathan and Sarinda Unamboowe will walk the entire distance from
October 6 to November 2 joined by several other Trail Blazers who intend
on walking the entire 670 km. Trail 2016 aims to raise five million US
Dollars to build a cancer treatment facility at the Karapitiya Teaching
Hospital in Galle.
Trail was brought to life because of Nathan and Sarinda's shared
vision of uniting as a nation and improving access for cancer treatment
in Sri Lanka. For Sarinda, it was fulfilling a promise that he had made
to walk the length of the country if the separatist war that plagued Sri
Lanka came to an end, a mark of his commitment to peace. For Nathan, the
cause was a dear one, having lost his sister to cancer. Founded in 2011,
Trail was Sri Lanka's largest ever crowd funded charitable initiative,
which raised 2.6 million US Dollars in its first year to build the
Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital. Over the course of 27 days, they were
joined by over 30,000 people who wanted to be a part of the important
message that Trail stood for; 30,000 people who walked hundreds of
kilometers despite the heat and humidity, all because they wanted to be
a part of this cause and hoped to make a difference for our nation.
Generosity
The overwhelming generosity of the Sri Lankan people from all walks
of life was one of the most awe-inspiring aspects of that 670 km
journey. Some of the most humbling experiences that touched those who
walked will remain forever etched in their memories - a wayside banana
seller, an elderly lady who gave her cart of fruit, her entire day's
earnings, to the walkers; a 5-year old eagerly awaiting Mahela's arrival
by the roadside, and with sparkling eyes he gifted his collection till
towards the fund; two little girls no more than 6 and 7 years who stood
in front of a small temporary UN shelter in the North to donate their
precious Rs 100. These and many more stories are what brought tears to
their eyes and inspired them during that long walk, back in 2011.
Over LKR 7 million was raised solely through till donations, as
thousands of people walked from the South of Sri Lanka to the North.
There were so many who wanted to help the cause; they put the needs of
those suffering with cancer above their own adversity. This generosity
was the same across the whole nation, and directly resulted in the
completion and opening of the Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital in
January 2014. It is a testimony to a nation's collective fight against
cancer.
Impact
The Tellippalai Trail Cancer Hospital is a state-of-the-art cancer
hospital housing 120 beds across 3 wards, including a pediatric ward.
The hospital also provides chemotherapy and iodine treatment facilities
and has treated over 4,500 patients to date from the Northern and
North-Eastern regions of Sri Lanka.
The success of Trail 2011 highlighted the powerful impact created
when communities across the country are united. Nathan and Sarinda are
passionate about this cause and had promised themselves when they
completed that incredibly fulfilling and inspiring first journey, that
they would walk back and continue to do their part in the ongoing fight
against cancer to improve treatment facilities in Sri Lanka. So, this
year they are set to retrace their steps from North to South and raise
funds to expand the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle.
Established in 1982, the hospital is the 3rd largest national
hospital in the country. In 2015, the hospital recorded its highest
number of cancer related deaths and has seen a dramatic influx of
patients traveling from surrounding regions for treatment. Trail's dream
to expand this hospital will improve both access to cancer treatment in
Sri Lanka, as well as the quality of care.
Disease
Nathan and Sarinda's message to everyone is to become involved and
fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. You can
join the Walk starting 6 October in Point Pedro to collectively fight
our nation's battle against cancer. Participants can choose to walk the
whole journey of 28 days, or elect to join at any point, en route at the
time of registration. In addition, participants can join the walk along
the route at no cost, to show support for Trail. Trail is one of the
largest charity walks in the country to raise funds for better cancer
treatment facilities. For details of the route map, or to register and
donate, please visit www.trailsl.com.
The organization behind Trail, the Colours of Courage Trust (COC), a
non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting treatment facilities at
the National Cancer Institute, Maharagama was founded in 2008. To-date
COC Trust has carried out several fund raising initiatives, the funds of
which have been utilized to build the Medical and Surgical Intensive
Care Units at the National Cancer Institute.
For more information on the COC Trust visit
www.coloursofcourage.com.
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