Teamwork allows you to take on the biggest challenges and succeed

Nine months ago, I made a New Year's resolution to go on 20-kilometer walks at least 20 times this year after I managed to cover that distance in suburban Brussels on Jan 1.

I posted my resolution on WeChat, a social media platform. My friend Alice Choi, who is Hong Kong's deputy representative of economics and trade in Brussels, saw my post and threw down the gauntlet. She urged me to join a 100-km Oxfam trail initiative in late August in the forests and grasslands of Belgium, which borders Germany.

The basic idea, she said, was to form a team of four hikers to complete the distance in less than 30 hours to help raise funds for people in poor countries. I liked the challenge of the dual-purpose plan and felt honored to be of some help to people in need. I was confident of enduring the tough trek because I have the experience of walking long distances in my mountainous hometown in Sichuan province from the age of 10.

Soon after I decided to take up the challenge of covering 100 km within a certain time. Inese Duka, a Latvian interpreter working in Europe, and Heleenvan Geest, a Dutch journalist, joined us and our team - Hong Kong Can Do -took shape (because Choi's representative office partly sponsored the charitable activity).

Because of our busy schedules, we only had two face-to-face meetings and a 50-km trial hike before we started on the 100-km trek on Aug 29 with about 1,000 other hikers, whose aim was to raise at least 500,000 euros ($559,815).

Most of the hiking route was around the national park in Haute-Fagnes, Belgium, where the climate ranges from sub-alpine to sub-Arctic throughout the year. During the day, we walked through forests, hills, grasslands, and across rivers, walking sticks in hand. On the first day, we succeeded in completing the first part of the trek together.

After enjoying the delicious food prepared by van Geest's husband, we filled our water bottles and began our night trek. Moonlight filtered through the birch and fir trees in the forest, the air was refreshing and cool, and the night serene. The power of nature in full splendor worked as a balm for my sore heels.

But Choi's knees started hurting during descents. She had to limp to keep up with the team. So we changed our strategy. Duka and van Geest took the lead despite their painful feet and knees. Waiting for us at the checkpoints, they even prepared some food for us and arranged for some emergency medical help for Choi when necessary.

After three short breaks, we painstakingly but joyfully reached the final checkpoint, just 10 km from the finishing line, early in the morning. Having reached that point, we were sure of completing the mission despite Choi's painful knees that slowed her pace.

After another three hours, we touched the finishing line hand in hand in Eupen, capital of Belgium's German-speaking community where we had started nearly 28 hours ago. We were greeted with applause, hugs and medals.

What kept me focused throughout the trek was the simple saying "no pain,no gain", which van Geest kept murmuring. And Choi's perseverance was the much-needed booster. Van Geest's mother-in-law was also in the crowd to welcome us at the finishing line. She congratulated me, saying: "Brave young man, remember, no matter what happens in your life later, think about this 100-km adventure think of this trek and no obstacle will be too difficult to overcome.

She was right. I will never forget crossing the finishing line and it will egg me on to take up bigger challenges. The additional reward: our team helped the organizers raise more funds than they had expected.

The success of our team reminds me of an African saying: If you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together!

The author is China Daily chief correspondent in Brussels. Contact the writer at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily European Weekly 09/11/2015 page11)