We are a team of three first year undergraduates at Bristol University, who like many other undergraduates are keen to embark on a once in a lifetime challenge this summer. In addition, it is our aim to attempt something beneficial that will provide support to a worthy cause. Eventually, we decided upon the challenge of driving a vehicle from London to Mongolia, as a participant in the Mongol Charity Rally, raising money for Save the Children. But, how might we be able to allow other people to benefit from our expedition? This is where the ambulance came into the equation!

            Mongolia's medical infrastructure is not something to be envied, caught somewhere between the third world and developed world, it is hard to see what such an underprivileged population could expect from a modern medicine. But it seems that a Land Rover Ambulance would provide the perfect answer. Frankly, in any country with a horse to human ratio of 13:1, any vehicle, especially a Land Rover, is going to be well received. Our ambulance has a stretcher, and we have begun our search for medical sponsors who will donate any equipment they can. The route will be roughly 10,000 miles crossing 2 mountain ranges and 3 deserts, which we hope will take us about 6 weeks. We are planning to head straight through Europe, entering Russia from the Ukraine, and then into Kazakhstan, followed by Uzbekistan, Kyrgzstan, back into Kazakhstan, Russia and then finally into Mongolia.

            We’ve asked Save the Children, a highly efficient charity, which uses over 90% of its expenditure on projects, and spends just 3.7% on administrative expenses, to endorse the expedition. They work in a number of countries, that we will be driving through on our way to Mongolia, attempting to settle the huge number of displaced families, resulting from from the withdrawal of the former Soviet Union.

            We are seeking to raise the following categories of donation, which the Mongolians will receive upon our arrival:

1.      Primarily, we aim to donate a working ambulance. We have already personally funded the acquisition of the vehicle we purchased from ‘Event Medical Service’. Unfortunately, however, we had to leave much of the equipment behind, due to lack of funds. So, any donations received from now will be spent on much needed medical supplies and equipment that would complete a fully functioning ambulance for the Mongolian community.

2.      A direct donation to Save the Children, on our personal web address: http://www.justgiving.com/mongolambulance.

3.      There are various pieces of kit, which will prove essential to getting to Mongolia, for example the purchase of equipment such as sleeping bags, jerry cans, and tents, which would be used on the way out there and upon arrival will be donated to Save the Children Mongolia.

            Donations to help us with points 1 and 3, may be sent as a cheque made out to Luke Taylor, and directed to any of the three addresses below. Unfortunately, as we aren’t a registered charity, these donations won’t be tax efficient, and have to be put into a personal account. We stress that these donations will only be spent on equipment that will donated to the Mongolian community when we arrive. Alternatively, making a donation directly to our Save the Children website would be equally appreciated, http://www.justgiving.com/mongolambulance.

We thank you for any help,

The Mongol Ambulance Team

Luke Taylor: Ewen House, Ewen, Nr Cirencester, Glos, GL7 6BU

Will Lowry: Lake House, Pusey, Nr Faringdon, Oxon, SN7 8QB

Charlie Brooks: Wistow Hall, Wistow, Leics, LE8 0QF