Presentation of the teams

c/o RP

This is a charity challenge. We paid the land only portion for the trip plus a $500 donation to a charity of our choice linked to Intrepid. The other teams raised $5000 each, their trip paid from the proceeds with the balance for charity. The prize: AUD$1000. All of us from Montreal, if we were to win, are planning on giving away the prize.

Meet the teams:

Team 21: because they are both 21 years old - the babies of the group. Lagging in last place mostly because Erin was sick and could not participate in several of the race days. Erin is a senior at Uni - studying Sports Admin and Kinesiology. Gavin is a bartender who is between jobs. They are not a couple. They are racing for the Mental Illness Foundation of Australia.

McHappy: Chris is a personal trainer and a blackbelt in karate. He owns a gym/school. Kylie was his client and now runs the gym. They are now a couple. They are both actively involved with Ronald McDonald House. They are probably the most competitive of the teams here.

Deaf South Australia Daredevils: Mark is a music teacher in primary school. Kerry works for Deaf SA, a charitable association. She is paid to be here as a faculty development event for her so that she can put together similar type events to raise money for her organization. Mark eats more than anyone I know and assures that there are no leftovers on the table. And unlike VP who is another walking stomach, Mark will eat ANYTHING. He even beats me (Malv) on that one.

The Stokers: Adele is a clinical nurse specialist in Stroke and Neurosciences. Geoff was a neurosurgical nurse until three years ago when he quit to start a gardening business. His business is a little hampered by the drought in Australia. They have both travelled extensively, but not in SE Asia. They are running for the Stroke Foundation.

The Princess and the P: Vini and MALV. MALV is am the Vietnamese princess and the P is, well, ViniP. But Vini can sometimes be a princess and MALV am Petite. They have donated to Oxfam Australia. This is our mascot:

princess, originally uploaded by Galadryel.

The Tortoise and the Hair: RP and PV. The tortoise is slow and methodical; the hare has bad hair days. Guess who gave to Oxfam Australia and who gave to the Seeing Eye Dogs of Australia.