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/
Raised:
248%
Raised so far: £12,437.00
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Donation by Zarine on 14/01/09 |
£20.00 |
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Well done! Keep writing. I remember you from Henry V. Donation by David Farrell on 21/10/08 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Congratulations a fantastic achievment Donation by Chris Fry on 25/09/08 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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Big congratulations! Enjoyed the blog Donation by Claire Young on 18/09/08 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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well done knew you could do it Donation by martin grant on 17/09/08 |
£250.00 + £70.51 Gift Aid |
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Good Luck from an apprentice fan ! Donation by Jim P on 16/09/08 |
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid |
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Keep going Donation by Neil on 16/09/08 |
£2.00 + £0.56 Gift Aid |
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Good luck and have fun. Come back safe. Donation by Gordon Ritchie on 15/09/08 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Good luck - dont forget to take a cushion. Donation by sean h on 15/09/08 |
£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid |
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Best wishes from Apprentice Fan Donation by Martin Jameson on 13/09/08 |
£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid |
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just wanted to tidy up the amount of donations. Donation by Pat on 02/09/08 |
£2.00 + £0.56 Gift Aid |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Well done Nick! Well done Hortense! Donation by Tim Mills on 22/08/08 |
£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid |
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A pinch of madness is pretty powerful!! Great Cause! Donation by Sunita V on 20/08/08 |
£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid |
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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 |
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Great cause - good luck! Donation by Annie C on 17/08/08 |
£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid |
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All best wishes. Keep up the good works. Donation by Bernard Jolles on 13/08/08 |
£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid |
| * Total raised online: | £11,787.00 |
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| Offline donations: | £650.00 |
| Mobile donations: | £0.00 |
| Total Raised: | £12,437.00 |
| Gift Aid plus supplement: | £2,319.87 |
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Find out
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