Vietnam

  • Corporate Champions: SBS and the Race for Refugees

    A CASE STUDY OF CORPORATE CHARITY SUCCESS…

    In November 2012, a team of 16 brilliant fundraisers embarked on the SBS Race for Refugees; a cycling odyssey from Vietnam to Cambodia.

    This adventure is an excellent representation of how corporate challenges can make a real difference by teaming up with a charity or cause they are passionate about and encouraging their employees and suppliers to get involved.

    How did the SBS Race for Refugees come about?

    In 2011, SBS approached Inspired Adventures and enquired about creating a corporate challenge to raise funds for charity. They saw it as an exciting opportunity to make a difference while forging stronger relationships with their clients. SBS engaged some of their media agencies – MindShare Australia, MediaCom Australia, and OMD – and invited them to submit a team. With the corporate side of things taken care of, it was time to find a cause or a charity to match SBS’s story.

    SBS and Australia for UNHCR

    SBS specialise in telling the stories of humankind with their broadcasts in more languages than any other broadcaster world wide (they broadcast in 68 languages on radio!). Matching them with a charity such as Australia for UNHCR was an easy decision. It was made even easier as the SBS Foundation has been a long-time supporter of Australia for UNHCR. From the combination of these two formidable organisations (one corporate and one charity) came the ‘SBS Race for Refugees 2012’.

    With the corporate-charity partnership in place, Inspired Adventures set about creating a bespoke itinerary drawing upon the values, interests and work of both organisations. The SBS Race for Refugees would start in Siem Reap in Cambodia and end in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The challenge would include raising funds to support UNHCR’s Emergency Response Program and humanitarian assistance as well as cycling over 400km through Southeast Asia. Highlights of the itinerary included a soccer game at a school in Siem Reap and a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the work of UNHCR in Cambodia.

    The race was on…

    With everything in place, it was time to put together a team to take on this unique challenge. SBS found four employees who were up for a challenge. They then invited each of the agencies to register a team of four. Once the team of 16 was complete, Inspired Adventures supported them through team fundraising workshops and individual coaching in order to reach the set fundraising target.

    To make the team look the part, a cycling shirt was designed specifically for the SBS Race for Refugees. SBS approached a Sydney-based cycling shop for sponsorship of the team and before long they were all decked out with helmets, shirts and other cycling paraphernalia.

    With the team all set and ready to go, the final pre-departure preparation was a lively team dinner with Carina Hoang from UNHCR, a former refugee. Bolstered with a reinforced understanding of the work of UNHCR and excitement for the adventures that lay ahead, the team set off of on their cycling odyssey.

    The adventure of all adventures…

    The team arrived in Siem Reap late on Friday 2 November 2012. The following day they cycled 50km in the heat “…it’s hot. Really, really hot…. just standing in the shade leaves sweat lingering on our brows in this unseasonably hot November”.  The next challenge in the heat was a vigorous 2-hour soccer extravaganza with our team of 16 and with every child who attended the local school.

    Over the next few days, the team cycled through the world-famous temples of Angkor grabbing an incredible team ‘jump’ photo at Angkor Wat before moving on to Angkor Thom, the temple made famous by the Tomb Raider movie.

    Upon making their way to Phnom Penh, the team were able to rest and recharge their batteries. They paid a “sombre visit to both the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek killing fields, where we were confronted by the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge…”.

    As the Race continued our intrepid cyclists made their way to southern Cambodia to explore the seaside towns of Kampot and Kep before crossing the border into Vietnam. The heat was just as oppressive in Vietnam as the cycling continued through the Mekong Delta interspersed with a boat ride to visit the floating markets. Finally the team arrived in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate their achievements. Tour Escort, Kyle, summed up the SBS Race for Refugees brilliantly:

    “It’s amazing to think that you can take three competing media agencies and one brilliant television station, unite them behind a common cause and raise over $50,000 for Australia for UNHCR then cycle across Cambodia and Vietnam as a team getting along every step of the way. Talk about an Inspired Adventure!”

    Corporate Challenges through Inspired Adventures: a recipe for success

    Overall, the SBS Race for Refugees matched an enthusiastic corporate with a worthy cause and raised over $50,000 for Australia for UNHCR. The team was made up of employees from SBS and individuals from a number of media agencies. This team of incredible individuals transformed themselves into fundraising cyclists and they pushed their physical boundaries to the limit by cycling over 400km in unseasonably hot weather in Cambodia and Vietnam. Long days spent in narrow bicycle seats were in stark contrast to the comfort of their cushioned office chairs. Each individual rose to the occasion and collectively they all made a huge difference to a cause that united them as a team and forged friendships for life.

    SBS have 7 billion stories and counting… now they have one more to count; the success story that is the SBS Race for Refugees 2012.

    If you think your workplace is as adventurous as SBS, contact Justine at Inspired Adventures – 1300 905 188. 

    Read more trip stories or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

     

  • Day 8: Our Final Cycle is HOT HOT HOT (and so are we)

    DAY 8: SBS RACE FOR REFUGEES 2012 (Mekong Delta; 55kms)

    Today we had only one objective: pound through the 50 kilometres and finish the challenge before literally melting into the road. We had a brilliant early morning boat ride to visit the floating markets where an 8-year-old kid taught us all a thing or two about sales, nearly managing to up-sell Lizzie from 20 bananas to 40 using the cunning tactic of grinning big while withholding change. He almost had us!

    After a 30-minute transfer on the bus we saddled-up to conquer our final ride of the trip: 50 kilometres, taking us to 420 kilometres total!!! It was hot and getting hotter so we powered through the first 25 kilometres in one go, stopping for a quick drink and cool down before hitting the road again to bang out another 15.

    It comes easy to us at this point, zipping down country roads as motorbikes zoom past us. The rice paddies extend as far as the eye can see in every direction, criss-crossed by irrigation channels bringing water and, in turn, life to the vibrant Mekong Delta. Every few kilometres we would head up a little bridge where the waterways converge, pumping hard on the steep incline then enjoying the burst of speed on the way down the other end. Today was certainly “undulating!”

    We stopped again 1 kilometre from the finish to regroup and finish how we started: together.

    It’s amazing to think you can take three competing media agencies and one brilliant television station, unite them behind a common cause and raise over $50,000 for Australia for UNHCR then cycle across Cambodia and Vietnam as a team getting along every step of the way. Talk about an Inspired Adventure!

    After snapping nine million photos in the 37-degree heat we hopped on the vans then hopped on a boat and cruised to an island in the Mekong Delta for a seafood feast of a lunch. Now it’s onward to Saigon to party “media style!” Watch out big city. We’re a comin’!

    For the final time, GO TEAM!

    Kyle
    Inspired Adventures Tour Escort

    More from the Australia for UNHCR SBS Race for Refugees 2012

    Australia for UNHCR is the fundraising arm of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Australia. Our aim is to help Australians change the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world.

    As well as providing emergency relief like shelter, food, water, and medical care, our generous supporters improve refugees’ future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools, and income generating projects. Our monthly donors also provide vital funding for UNHCR’s Emergency Response Teams who are on the ground saving lives within 72 hours, whenever and wherever crisis strikes. Find out more about Australia for UNHCR.

    Read more trip stories from or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

  • Day 7: Tyre Poppin' Fun!

    DAY 7: SBS RACE FOR REFUGEES 2012 (Mekong Delta; 50kms)

    It was all blood, sweat, and tears (minus the blood and tears) today as we hunkered down and did what we came here to do: cycle! It was up at 6am, eating by 7am, and on the bikes by 8am today as we ere seventeen people on a mission: complete the cycle BEFORE it gets dehabilitatingly hot.

    While we weren’t entirely successful, we certainly powered through the majority of the day before the sun seeped through and reached melting levels. Have I mentioned that it is unseasonably hot here at the minute?

    There’s actually not a whole lot to report here. We did 55km in under three hours, we had three flat tires, said farewell to Anj who heads back to Austalia for a wedding, we sat in hammocks when we finished, and we ate an incredible amount of lucky cow cheese. By my count, Claire and Laura were leading at six triangles each today. That’s almost an entire wheel and its only 3pm!

    Now it’s such much needed R&R before dinner, bed, and one final day on the bikes. Is it really coming to an end?!?!

    GO TEAM!

    Kyle
    Inspired Adventures Tour Escort

    More from the Australia for UNHCR SBS Race for Refugees 2012

    Australia for UNHCR is the fundraising arm of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Australia. Our aim is to help Australians change the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world.

    As well as providing emergency relief like shelter, food, water, and medical care, our generous supporters improve refugees’ future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools, and income generating projects. Our monthly donors also provide vital funding for UNHCR’s Emergency Response Teams who are on the ground saving lives within 72 hours, whenever and wherever crisis strikes. Find out more about Australia for UNHCR.

     

    Read more trip stories from Vietnam or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

  • Day 6: A Comedy of Errors

    DAY 6: SBS RACE FOR REFUGEES 2012 (Cambodia-Vietnam; 65kms)

    We have had such a clean run thus far so a morning where everything doesn’t go perfectly well was not only expected but almost appreciated. Almost. Today we made the move from Cambodia to Vietnam which meant, devastatingly, having to say goodbye to Vutthu, our absolutely incredible local guide in Cambodia.

    The border was, as you’d expect, a paved road that becomes a dirt road that becomes ‘no man’s’ land as you drift between the two nations in a brilliant dance of changing states. Getting out of Cambodia was easy enough: passport, big stamp, big stamp, thump thump thump, grumpy look, grunt, intense eye contact with immigration official, done.

    Entering Vietnam, however, was a bit more tricky. The Embassy in Australia misdated Dan’s visa, which meant a last-minute wham-bam emergency version so he could enter. Vi had an e-visa which, while valid, could not be used at this land border crossing for no reason in particular. Just a “special” one. We begged and pleaded and sat and waited as our new local guide “made a call”. Somehow, miraculously, after a little official money for a new visa and quite a bit of unofficial money for the privilege, Vi too made it in! It’s was great news, as we had been planning her return to Pnomh Penh (5 hours away) to get a new visa using the public bus then returning to the border and re-entering Vietnam only to join us at our hotel another 3 hours beyond the border. Thankfully, she and I didn’t have to do that!

    Because of the delay we had to modify our cycling distance a bit (though we will still pass 400km in total). I gave a rousing speech about how our luck would change only to have it start pouring with rain before Kate and a moped got a little too close for comfort.

    Thankfully, there were hammocks and laughing cow cheese waiting for us at lunch and we devoured every last bite! It’s onward to the hotel now for some MUCH NEEDED rest and relaxation. Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start in our new host country. Can’t wait!

    GO TEAM!

    Kyle
    Inspired Adventures Tour Escort

    More from the Australia for UNHCR SBS Race for Refugees 2012

    Australia for UNHCR is the fundraising arm of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Australia. Our aim is to help Australians change the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world.

    As well as providing emergency relief like shelter, food, water, and medical care, our generous supporters improve refugees’ future opportunities, providing infrastructure, schools, and income generating projects. Our monthly donors also provide vital funding for UNHCR’s Emergency Response Teams who are on the ground saving lives within 72 hours, whenever and wherever crisis strikes. Find out more about Australia for UNHCR.

     

    Read more trip stories from Vietnam or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

  • Cerebral Palsy League - Vietnam Challenge 2012

    They’re off! Christopher Scott and Brooke Weeks are at the airport anticipating their 12-Day Vietnam trek of a lifetime that awaits them. Trekking across the hillsides, villages and beaches that Vietnam has to offer, they will be experiencing the beautiful landscape and fascinating historical past of Vietnam in the most personal way.

     

    This dedicated team of adventurers has spent months fundraising for the Cerebral Palsy League, an organization who makes a real difference to the lives of Queenslanders with physical disabilities. Cerebral Palsy is the most common children’s disability in Australia, but with the right support, there is no limit to what they can achieve.

    After washing off the sweat and dirt of their 7-hour trekking days, the team will be spending two days volunteering at the Ngoc Son Disability Centre. We’re sure that witnessing the improvements that the right services and support can do to improve the mobility of people with disability will only highlight why “Vietnam Challenge 2012” is so valuable!

    Lets get this started!

    SUN 16 SEP- Lao Cai – Sapa – Ma Tra – Ta Phin (warm up hike) 

    The team have just completed their 14km “warm up trek” through the beautiful Sapa. Chris and Brooked geared up for a day of trekking through the rice paddy fields, passing by the Black Hmong tribal and Red Dao minority village of Thai Phin and had a rest at a local school for a picnic lunch.

    “The scenery is amazing and Chris and I are enjoying all the animals and
    children along the way.”

    The team sent through a happy snap taken before they set out this morning – “we look a
    little more tired now ha ha.”

    Stay tuned!!

    MON 17 SEP – Sapa- Lao Chai – Ta Van – Seo Mi Ty    

    “The itinerary wasn’t kidding when it said “uphill steeply”. Chris powered through and was very patient as I made my way at my own pace. The views were brilliant though and when we eventually made it to the village we were rewarded with a great view from the family home and an amazing dinner (and plenty of rice wine).”

    - Brooke & Chris.

    TUES 18 SEP – Seo Mi Ti Den Thang – Ta Trung Ho    


    “A really lovely walk through waterfalls and rice paddies on what was a much cooler day. We soon headed steeply uphill again, this time only for a short(ish) time. Then it was downhill into another village for the night. The house (and facilities) were very much appreciated and there was excitement in the home as the family had just welcomed a new baby boy that day. Another feast (and more wine) before an early night for all of us.”

    - Brooke & Chris.

    WED 19 SEP – Ta Trung Ho – Nam Tong – Thanh Phu - Sinchai 

    “We woke up to be welcomed with a storm and a lot of rain so we changed our plans for the day. After a shorter walk and we came back to the same house for a second night, where we had a lovely dinner with the family. This gentle day was just what we needed!”

    - Brooke & Chris.

    THURS 20 SEP-  Sin Chai – Nam Lang – Nam Ket- Ben Den – Lao Cai

    “More rain!  But we pushed through and made our way back up the mountain towards Sapa. We are both very proud of ourselves and each other because WE DID IT!!!”

    - Brooke & Chris.

     

    Read more trip stories from Vietnam or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.