The first day attendance was overwhelming. There were 600 walkers apart from the 1000 enthusiasts, looking forward its start. The Dondra Head was dazzling with pageantry. The Southern breeze was mingled with hope and energy. With MP Namal Rajapaksa’s flagging off at 9.00 am, the journey started.

Conceptualized with noble intentions and executed with diligent organization, ‘Trail’ is a walk from the South to the North. Well, it is a venture beyond a walk.

Introduced as ‘A Journey by the Living, for Life’, Trail is a 27-day walk spanning 670km. It is driven by the philanthropic hope of raising 2 million US dollars in order to construct a paediatric cancer ward in the Jaffna General Hospital. Started from the Dondra Lighthouse premises on July 2^nd, the Walk is scheduled to conclude at Point Pedro on July 28th, after travelling an average of 24km everyday. It has passed by Weligama, Kosgoda, Payagala, Panadura, Gale Face and Ja-Ela so far. The walkers are warmly welcomed and attended on by the residents on eitherside of the road.

Commended by media personnel, the public and participants as an effective method of fundraising, Trail has become the talk of the town with several popular and public figures such as Jehan Mubarak, Mahela Jayawardena and Otara Gunewardena joining. They are full of praise for this inspirational approach and its expected outcomes.

There are multiple ways for people to contribute, which range from buying a brick or a coffee milkshake to simply joining the walk. However, fundraising is not the be-all-and-end-all of this landmark event. This is a gesture of goodwill and brotherhood from the people of the South to their brothers in the North. While spreading love, harmony and unity, Trail promotes awareness about its endeavour among the people.    

Trail is initiated by the Colours of Courage Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to the task of developing resources to treat cancer in Sri Lanka. Before initiating this project, the Trust was involved in projects centered around the National Cancer Institute in Maharagama. Since its inception in 2008, the Trust has recognized the emerging need for a cancer hospital apart from the existing one in Maharagama, for the benefit of cancer patients in the Northern, North Central and Eastern provinces.

All funds generated from ‘Trail’ will be channeled through the Colours of Courage Trust and will be used for the construction of the paediatric cancer ward at the Jaffna General Hospital.