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

Hope to see you soon at Le Club Dandy

Donation by OTTO SWINK on 08/06/08

£20.00

May your journey go as smoothly as your donation service!

Donation by The Wagners on 07/06/08

£40.00

Target reached now! All the best and be careful. love the boots!

Donation by Bob and Karen Watkins on 07/06/08

£200.00

+ £56.41 Gift Aid

Good luck Nick - what an adventure! Hortense looks lovely (maybe take some Redex...and Radweld?)

Donation by Edward Meadows on 06/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck and keep away from the pot holes!

Donation by Melinda Scott-Manderson on 06/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck

Donation by Mihir & Caroline Bose on 06/06/08

£40.00

+ £11.28 Gift Aid

Good luck Nick!

Donation by Martin Bland on 06/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

looking forward to highly literary blog

Donation by Felicity Rubinstein on 06/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Phone if you need me to fly out and rescue you

Donation by Peter Moore on 06/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Nick - you always take 'the path less travelled'! Happy Days.

Donation by Neil Christie on 06/06/08

£100.00

+ £28.21 Gift Aid

Good luck!

Donation by Duncan Hamilton-Martin on 06/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

She looks wonderful sure you will make it. Best of luck to you both

Donation by cherry jephson on 06/06/08

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

All the very best of everything.

Donation by Caroline Quigley on 05/06/08

£20.00

Good Luck Nick - What a fantastic cause ~ Hope and Homes for Children are a brilliant charity to support

Donation by Neil Oliver on 05/06/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Have fun!

Donation by Lizzie Beasley on 05/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Charles & Peta Humphreys on 05/06/08

£50.00

Good Luck Nick!

Donation by Herbert Smith - Alan Watts on 05/06/08

£500.00

Good Luck Nick! Would you mind telling your friends about my page justgiving.com/kaplanprofessionalnewcastle It's all for a good cause! Thanks.

Donation by Chris Steel on 05/06/08

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

You promised to bring back me some fermented mares milk back with you. Please don't forget.

Donation by Elton B Mouna on 05/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck!

Donation by linncentres.com on 05/06/08

£30.00

+ £8.46 Gift Aid

Good Luck and Safe Journey - It is certainly going to be an adventure and inspiration to others to raise money for charity!!!

Donation by Christopher Marc Gullick on 04/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Nick, you are a nutter. Good luck

Donation by Roy Ackerman on 04/06/08

£25.00

+ £7.05 Gift Aid

Are you totally mad?

Donation by Louise & Mark Baron on 04/06/08

£50.00

+ £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck Nick and Hortense on your travels

Donation by Diane, Sarah and Kate on 04/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Hope to see you and Borat en route

Donation by John Kelleher on 04/06/08

£50.00

Donation summary

  • * Online donations$17,901.10
  • Offline donations$987.17
  • Text donations$0.00
  • Total raised$18,888.27
  • Gift Aid$3,523.22

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