Roof of the World Rally
From London (England) to Dunshabe (Tajikistan)
Team Au Seuil de la Liberté

1- To get to the point: We'd like you to donate to charity. Since that doesn't happen enough in our modern day society, we're proposing to embark on something quite crazy, so that you can sponsor us, and we can pass on your sponsorship to charity.

2- On Sunday 12th July, we three Australians will be setting off in the Roof of the World charity rally. Visit the official website of the rally at http://www.roofoftheworldrally.com/

3- James McEnaney, Greg Morgan and Tony Chan - amateur rally drivers, adventurists and learn-on-the-drive mechanics - will be attempting to drive close to 6000 miles from London, England to Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

4 - Yes that's right - we will be driving through a plethora of countries and difficult border crossings: from England up into the Artic Circle of Finland and then through the expanse of Russia, the arid desert of Kazakstan, past the ancient city of Samarqand, and then, into the high mountain passes of Tajikistan. All in a car that is valued at less that 150 GBP (part of the 'fun' of this rally race).

5 - You can view the details of our planned month-long rally route at http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_6Op.html

6 - It seems as though we've moved through some planning. However, to be honest, we don't really know where we'll be sleeping, how much to bribe the guards at the border crossings, or even how to repair our car when it inevitably breaks down.

7 - And all of this is being pursued in support for the SWORDE-Teppa charity in Central Asia - an area of such outstanding natural beauty and culture, and yet, so devoid of tourism, even in this modern age.

8 - Back to the point: We'd like you to sponsor us for this rally. Before you object, and point out how much we, as team members will derive from this experience, please understand that all of the money which you donate will go to SWORDE-Teppa.

9 - We've stumped up all the money that will be necessary for the operation of the trip - ridiculously expensive visas, the car, gear for the car, projected costs of petrol - and then of course there is the entire month of hardship that we're really looking forward to experiencing; which will probably be an entire world away from the kind of epiphanous experience described by Kerouac 'On the Road'.

10 - Honest thanks for your support - helping Central Asians pass over the threshold of liberty.