The Mongol Rally

London to Mongolia in a car that's fit for the scrap heap

Justin Wheeler is planning to drive from London to Mongolia in less than 6 weeks and trying to raise at least 5,000 for charity…. and he's looking for a co-driver.

Not only that, he's traveling in a clapped out old banger with an engine smaller than 1 litre in size. He claims to know next to nothing about mechanics, and says, "when I was in the army I got lost just trying to find the parade ground."

The trip is in aid of two epic charities, Send a Cow and Save the Children.

Founded in 1988 Send a Cow originally sent cows to starving Uganda. Now 17 years later in 2005, the charity works in seven countries: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Zambia and Tanzania. The charity has also worked with a group in Sudan. We support new and established projects by supplying cows, goats, pigs, poultry, bees and fruit trees, and are piloting schemes to provide rabbits, fish and draft oxen.

Jane Mulumba received one of the original Jersey cows sent out by a UK farmer in 1988. It is still alive, and has given her eight calves so far. She says her eight children are all healthy due to all the milk they have been able to drink. They have also had a diet rich in vegetables, which Jane has grown on land improved by her animals’ manure. She has used the money from selling the surplus milk to buy poultry, a pig and a goat.

The second charity I am raising money for is Save the Children. We are raising money specifically for their work in Mongolia and after much discussion with the Mongolian Government this was decided to be the best place for our money. Everyone knows the sterling job that Save the Children do, although further information on both these charities can be found on Justin's Charity Page.

The challenge is to travel ¼ of the way around the earth, from London to Mongolia in any crap car that has an engine with no more than 1 ltr of power.

This year's Mongol Rally starts on Saturday the 30th of July. Currently there are about 50 teams taking part.

The race is just over 8000 miles, starting from London and finishing near the Mongolian capital Ulaan Bataar about three weeks later. The route is broken into three legs which vary in length, with an optional stop off at the end of each to catch some much needed rest.

Justin will be travelling with one other person, who he hasn't found yet! His car, as yet unfound will likely double up as a hotel, dining room, sometime kitchen and entertainment centre. At each stopover point there will be luxuries such as beds and roofs. There will be no back up team! As the organisers say it is an adventure not a petting zoo so arrival at the destination and safety are in no way guaranteed!

To learn more about Justin's amazing journey, to contribute money, or to volunteer as second driver, go to: http://www.mongoliaorbust.co.uk/