Trail SL 2016 to raise $ 5 million for oncology unit in Karapitiya

Renowned singers and composer of Sri Lanka who has been contributing to Trial posing for a group photo during the launch of Trail 2016 at Cinnamon Grand Hotel on Wednesday 20th July 2016

Amali Nanayyakara, Group Chief Marketing Officer Dialog Axiata PLC and Shyam Majeed Group Chief Officer, Commercial & Programme Management officially handling over the bricks to Co-Founder of Trial Nathan Sivanagathanan and Sarinda Unamboowe to construct the Cancer Hospital under Trail 2016 project during the official launch of Trail at Cinnamon Grand Hotel on Wednesday 20th July 2016

A 670 km walk from Point Pedro in Jaffna to Dondra Head in Matara will commence on 6 October with the aim of raising funds to expand the oncology unit at the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. 

Titled Trail 2016, the walk is organised by the Colours of Courage Trust, with Dialog Axiata Plc serving as platinum sponsor. A sum of $ 5 million is expected to be raised through the exercise, with the Government reportedly having agreed to match every dollar. According to the official Trail SL website, some $ 471,000 has already been raised, with 97 walkers registered so far.

A sequel to the 2011 Trail SL, the same walk in the opposite direction that raised funds for the construction of the Trail Tellippalai Cancer Hospital in Jaffna, this year’s walk will span 28 days, covering 28 townships from Jaffna to Matara, with a host of celebrities joining the walk. The 120-bed Tellipalai Hospital, opened in 2014, has treated over 4,500 patients from the northern and eastern provinces. 

A star-studded event was held in Colombo on Wednesday to mark the launch of the crowd-funded charity’s official website as well as the partnership between the organisers and Dialog Axiata. 

Pop idols Bathiya Jayakodi and Santhush Weeraman were unveiled to be the official brand ambassadors for this year’s initiative. Other brand ambassadors include cricketers Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lankan-born Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez and celebrated entrepreneur Otara de Mel.

Members of the public can donate to the cause via Dialog by texting Trail<space><donation amount> to 77100 from and Dialog prepaid or postpaid connection. The donated amount, said Dialog in an announcement, will be added to the customer’s monthly bill. However, donations via SMS are limited to Rs. 2,500 maximum. To donate via Star Points, dial #141# and select ‘Trail.’ Customers could also use eZ Cash to contribute to the endeavour by dialling #111# and entering COCT under institutional payments.

You can also donate at the charity’s official website www.trailsl.com. Pix by Geethika Talukdar