Raised: 249%
Target: £5,000.00
Raised so far: £12,437.00
Donate now

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/

Hope Hortense gives you a good ride. Good luck to you both. Donation by Geoff Salt 01/07/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

good luck Donation by Simon and Jennifer Melliss 30/06/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Hang a left at Ulan Bator. Very best wishes, Desmond Donation by Desmond Quigley 28/06/08  

£100.00

May the luck of the Irish go with you!! Donation by Tricia O'Brien 28/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

If you purse your lips when you've completed the drive and post a pic I'll double the money and I be Donation by Georgie (Apprentice fan) 27/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Most impressed, particularly with you chosing a car that never topped any league tables for reliability. My PA says hers gave nothing but trouble! Donation by Michael Deeny 26/06/08  

£200.00 + £56.41 Gift Aid

"Who likes fast cars? Boys like fast cars. Boys with money like fast cars"-Nick Hewer Donation by C. Scot Cru 26/06/08  

£250.00

Fantastic effort Nick! Donation by Paul Kerr 26/06/08  

£10.00

V. good cause! My fav is Shooting Star Children's Hospice at Hampton Middx but anything to help needy kids is a worthwhile charity Donation by Mike Reynolds 26/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Much love and Good Luck! Donation by Michele and Philip Kurland 25/06/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good luck in what looks like a beauty ! Donation by Nicky Leggatt 24/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All the very best for your challenge in waiting Donation by Simon, Elizabeth & Morgan Goodred 24/06/08  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Bon voyage et bonne chance. Donation by Heather Holden-Brown 23/06/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck , I hope Sir Alan at least doubles all the money you raise! Donation by An Apprentice Fan 21/06/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Go Nick! Donation by Tim Moore 21/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Excellent cause. Would you consider a TV programme about it to raise more: your facial expressions on the trip will be a treat! Donation by John Furness 21/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Happy to be the ones to double your target. Shame you can't make this year's Amstrad renunion... Maybe next time ? Donation by Steve & Denise Farmer 21/06/08  

£121.00 + £34.13 Gift Aid

Go on you old bugger! Have fun and see you in September Donation by Mark Saben 20/06/08  

£20.00

Courageous, benevolent, and quite, quite mad. Donation by Barry Young 20/06/08  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

An opportunity to trawl for new candidates perhaps? Good luck and safe driving. Donation by Fiona Grierson (apprentice fan) 19/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Hi Nick, wish you a great adventure for a great cause. www.justgiving.com/mattsmith3 Donation by Matt Smith 19/06/08  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck. I too loved and owned a Renault 4 - his name was Digby! Donation by Sue Staines 19/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck to you, Nick. Come back in one piece - you're the main reason I watch The Apprentice! Donation by Debbie Ward 18/06/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

A most worthy cause Donation by Myra Molony 18/06/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

be safe nick Donation by bordan 18/06/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Great cause - one of my kids' school's chosen charities. Good luck. Will Suralan be joining you!? :) Donation by Anonymous 18/06/08  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Nick you're a legend! Always fancied doing a banger rally myself....an Apprentice fan you don't know. Donation by Guy Taylor 18/06/08  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Heard you on LBC - good luck! Donation by Cathryn 18/06/08  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

We did it AND Kent beat our target of £1200. Thank you! And thank you for the interview! Donation by Invicta FM, James Heming&People of Kent 17/06/08  

£1,301.00

Safe journey Nick, don't forget to smile at the nice policemen. Donation by Simon Thomsett 17/06/08  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
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* Total raised online: £11,787.00
  Offline donations: £650.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £2,319.87

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