My story

On 1st July I leave England with Hortense, a beautifully presented 20-year old, who also happens to be a Renault 4L. We are setting out together on an overland trip to Ulaanbataar, capital of Mongolia. Why am I driving 10,000 miles in an old car that can barely reach 60 mph on a good road? Because it's time for an adventure and because in doing so I am hoping to raise lots of money for Hope and Homes for Children. This charity focuses on closing down state welfare institutions in Eastern Europe by reuniting children with their families or close relatives.

I will be part of the Mongol Rally, but am leaving three weeks before the official start date. My travels will take me a quarter of the way round the world, through France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzebekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia - over five mountain ranges and across three deserts.

If everybody who reads this donates I will reach my target of £5k. It's a modest target and I'd be pleased to raise it for such a worthy cause. Of course, I'll be meeting all my own expenses, including bail money, border control bribes, prison food subsidies and hopefully, repatriation costs.

Best wishes
-Nick

P.S. blog updates at www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/

My gallery 1

My Teams

My company

My charity

Hope and Homes for Children

Hope and Homes for Children

Charity Registration No. 1089490

Hope and Homes for Children’s mission is to give hope to the poorest children in the world – those who are orphaned, abandoned or vulnerable – by enabling them to grow up within the love of a family and the security of a home, so they can fulfil their potential. In Central and Eastern Europe, we close orphanages and move children into family-based care whilst developing the services needed to help prevent child abandonment. In Africa, we provide a vital lifeline for families at risk of breakdown due to the pressures of poverty, disease or conflict. We believe that, above all else, every child should live within a loving family environment.

Donations 267

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Learned about this on around the world, well done!

Donation by William Sherlock on 25/10/09

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done Nick for a very worthy cause! Also just finished watching The Apprentice - Series 5, you and Margaret were, are and always will be stars!

Donation by Arun Sahi (Apprentice fan) on 09/06/09

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Heard you on Radio2 on Saturday - sounds like a brilliant cause, and having visited Romania I know the need is there.

Donation by Elaine Wisden on 28/04/09

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Zarine on 14/01/09

£20.00

Well done! Keep writing. I remember you from Henry V.

Donation by David Farrell on 21/10/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

I've just spent 2 great weeks driving around Mongolia - so I know what you went through. Well done!

Donation by PJ on 19/10/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done Nick. Please to hear Maude is still going strong. Love to see you sometime. love B

Donation by Barbara Carr on 17/10/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Congratulations on your achievment and viva la R4 the best small cheap car ever

Donation by Richard.Allen. on 15/10/08

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

Congratulations a fantastic achievment

Donation by Chris Fry on 25/09/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Big congratulations! Enjoyed the blog

Donation by Claire Young on 18/09/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

well done knew you could do it

Donation by martin grant on 17/09/08

£250.00

+ £70.51 Gift Aid

Good Luck from an apprentice fan !

Donation by Jim P on 16/09/08

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

Keep going

Donation by Neil on 16/09/08

£2.00

+ £0.56 Gift Aid

Good luck and have fun. Come back safe.

Donation by Gordon Ritchie on 15/09/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck - dont forget to take a cushion.

Donation by sean h on 15/09/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Best wishes from Apprentice Fan

Donation by Martin Jameson on 13/09/08

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

just wanted to tidy up the amount of donations.

Donation by Pat on 02/09/08

£2.00

+ £0.56 Gift Aid

Great cause and hopefully fun for you to complete the challenge.

Donation by Linda Wawrzyniak on 29/08/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Go well, Nick. Glad to see that the camera etc is working! Hope to see on your return.

Donation by Diane Cockerill on 26/08/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

This goes to Stefan Darabus-the romanian country director for HHC.For his expensive SUV.Great cause

Donation by special needs on 25/08/08

£2.00

Well done Nick! Well done Hortense!

Donation by Tim Mills on 22/08/08

£40.00

+ £11.28 Gift Aid

A pinch of madness is pretty powerful!! Great Cause!

Donation by Sunita V on 20/08/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Nick, sponsored as promised! Well done mate. Hope to see you at the next reunion - this time you and Phil can pay for the drinks!

Donation by Paul Moss on 19/08/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Great cause - good luck!

Donation by Annie C on 17/08/08

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

All best wishes. Keep up the good works.

Donation by Bernard Jolles on 13/08/08

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

Donation summary

  • * Online donations£11,787.00
  • Offline donations£650.00
  • Text donations£0.00
  • Total raised£12,437.00
  • Gift Aid£2,319.87

* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.