Two guys and a 20-year-old Renault 4 on a 10,000 mile drive to Mongolia for charity

PRLog (Press Release) – May 19, 2008 – London, UK – On 19th July 2008 Richard Brown and Robin Harrison, two friends from Essex, will set off on a 10,000 mile journey from London to Mongolia in a wholly unsuitable car, all in the name of charity.  The challenge is part of the Mongol Rally, a yearly event run by The Adventurists now in its fifth full installment.  There are just three rules: 1 - Drive from Hyde Park in London to Ulan Bator in Mongolia, taking any route you wish.  2 - The car must have an engine no bigger than 1000cc.  3 - Each team must raise a minimum of £1000 for charity (http://www.mongolrally-2008.co.uk/mongol-rally-2008-info ...)

Rich and Rob make up Team Everybody Yurts, and are one of 300 lucky entrants to get a place on this hugely over-subscribed event.  They are planning a rarely traveled option, the southern route through Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan among others.  And the car that they are hoping is going to last this epic journey?  A 1988 956cc Renault 4 named Isabelle. The pair are aiming to complete the epic journey in around five weeks, depending on political instabilities, visa particulars, navigational issues, the availability of vintage Renault spare parts, and Isabelle's performance.

The emphasis of the rally is heavily on adventure rather than racing.  There is no prize for the first team to the finish line.  The idea behind the 1000cc rule is that in driving something totally unsuitable over mountains, deserts and mud roads the teams will have much richer experience along the way, having to rely on locals for directions, repairs, hospitality and push starts.

Of course all this is also a great excuse to raise lots of money for charity too.  The event is set to raise over £300,000 pounds for the selected charities this year.  Team Everybody Yurts have chosen to support: Mercy Corps, who work to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities, and Hope and Homes For Children, who give hope to orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable children by enabling them to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home.  Additionally, the team will be collecting and delivering some much needed equipment to community based charity Sworde Teppa in Tajikistan, the poorest country in Central Asia. Details of the charities can be found here http://www.mongolrally-2008.co.uk/charities.html.

The Mongol Rally sets off from Hyde Park in London on 19th July 2008 and will take the team through 16 countries on their way.  For more information on the rally, the charities and to follow the adventures of Rich, Rob and Isabelle visit http://www.mongorally-2008.co.uk.


Contact:
Richard Brown
Everybody Yurts
rich@mongolrally-2008.co.uk
+44 (0)1708 440586
http://www.mongolrally-2008.co.uk