We made it! 10,000 miles later and we sailed into Paris on a blustery autumn day to a tumultous welcome from family and friends. It has been a fantastic adventure and a great privilege to have taken part in the Peking to Paris 2010 rally. The car has been brilliant. We broke many things along the way but all were repairable although there were one or two heart stopping moments. Some were not so lucky; one car burnt to the ground and another hurtled over the edge of a cliff and was a write off. luckily no one was hurt badly in either case.
Your donations have been brilliant. We had hoped to raise £10,000 but I think with a little bit more help we can get the total raised to £15,000. This certainly makes it all very worthwhile. Thank you all for your wonderful generosity and for following our trip. It made a huge difference to know that we weren't immediately forgotten!
Before:
As you probably know, we are about to test ourselves somewhat with a challenge which will certainly explore our resolve and probably our resourcefulness too. We have enlisted on an endurance rally, driving a 1935 Rolls Royce from Peking to Paris. We will be racing roughly 100 other vintage cars over 10,000 miles through some quite extraordinary countries and wild untamed surroundings. There is a very rigid programme: start Great Wall of China 10 September; finish Paris 16 October. We will be averaging approximately 300 miles a day over largely un-made up roads. This would be a severe test for a modern car; we have considerably upped the ante by attempting to complete the journey in a 75-year-old car which was perhaps more used to wafting its original owners from Mayfair to country seat, comfortably ensconced in the back with a glass of something refreshing! The back seats are gone now, replaced with essential spares, fuel and water (for the desert) and our tents – yes, that’s right, Dom and Alex will be camping! Whilst we have done all we can to prepare the car, there will doubtless be unforeseen trials and tribulations to contend with.
Our route takes us from China through, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and finally France.
We would very much like you to help us with raising funds for three charities that we are particularly keen on. Mary's Meals provides meals for schoolchildren in poverty-stricken areas around the world, ensuring they get at least one good meal per day as well as encouraging them to attend school. Maggie’s Centres are dotted around the UK and are places to turn to for help with any of the problems, small or large, associated with cancer. Helen & Douglas House have two homes that provide respite care for very sick children towards the end of their lives, giving both them and their family a much needed boost. Please pick one, and donate through our pages, or perhaps split your total donation between the three?
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. They will send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. It’s the most efficient way to give – more money is raised and costs are cut for the charity.
Thank you in advance for your support.