Hi, my name is Peter Harland. Call me crazy maybe, but as I am facing the latter part of my 40's (what I prefer to call my mid life crisis) I have been persuaded to enter the Classic East African Safari Rally in Kenya with my son Marcus as navigator.

Crazy idea really as neither of us has ever rallied before, but I was convinced by a good friend that this is the event of a lifetime and one apparently we will never forget.

Those of you who are familiar with rallying will know of the East African Safari rally. It was the ‘big’ endurance rally during the world championships and was at its height some might say in the mid 70’s attracting many famous rally drivers who have become household names with many of us, such as  Bjorn Waldegard, Stig Blomqvist and Juha Kankkunen. The rally became famous because it was normally staged over 9 days covering most of East Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. Much was uncharted and it was simply considered the toughest on both cars and drivers as most of the roads are notoriously rough and un-made. A true test for car and driver.

Well a few years ago it was taken off the world rally championship circuit (some might say because it was too tough!) but many of the rally stalwarts decided that it simply had to continue and has now manifested itself into the Classic East African Safari Rally which now can only be entered by 60 drivers and with ‘so called’ classic cars pre 1975. Most will agree these were the classic years of rallying when cars were real without the current sophistication of traction control, electronics and computers.

The race still covers 4300kms of Kenya and Tanzania. More information on the rally can be found at: www.eastafricansafarirally.com 

We are entering the Rally with a specially prepared Datsun 260Z from Australia. I am personally funding the whole thing, paying for the car, service teams etc and at the same time have decided to also try and raise money for Samantha Dickson Brain Tumor Trust. We have already taken part in one local Kenyan rally in July and surprisingly came 4th out of 9 in the two wheel entrants on our first outing.

Whilst I and my family have never been touched by this terrible cancer, I became aware of Samantha Dickson Brain Tumor Trust about 5 years ago having been invited to their fundraising Ball. Not only was I moved by some of the tragic stories and lives of people affected by this disease but I also admired the dedication of the fundraisers for this charity.  Equally I was horrified by the lack of central or world funding for research into this condition which affects too many people, especially the young.

This will be my first attempt to raise any money for their worthy cause.

More information on the charity can be found at www.braintumourtrust.co.uk

So having decided that I would try and raise money using this unique opportunity for SDBTT, I would love to raise as much as possible, but have been recommended that a target should be set. The rally starts on the 25th November through to the 3rd December 2007 and will be televised over much of Africa and the Middle East.

As a businessman I know there always seems to be a worthy charity asking for donations but this one is unique and very important so please contribute whether it is a single sum for us to simply take part or by the kilometre. Preferably I would like to receive a single donation because although I desperately want to complete the entire course, I am becoming all too aware just how difficult this could be.