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

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 on 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 on 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 on 20/06/08

£20.00

Courageous, benevolent, and quite, quite mad.

Donation by Barry Young on 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) on 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 on 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 on 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 on 18/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

A most worthy cause

Donation by Myra Molony on 18/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

be safe nick

Donation by bordan on 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 on 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 on 18/06/08

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

Heard you on LBC - good luck!

Donation by Cathryn on 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 on 17/06/08

£1,301.00

Safe journey Nick, don't forget to smile at the nice policemen.

Donation by Simon Thomsett on 17/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Be safe but enjoy

Donation by Sally Ward on 17/06/08

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

We drove Quatrelles for 17 years - a great choice for your venture. Good luck.

Donation by Ron Kerr on 17/06/08

£5.00

+ £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck - wish I was coming!

Donation by Nicky Parker on 17/06/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck - don't get speeding!

Donation by Tony Goodwin - Antal International on 16/06/08

£200.00

+ £56.41 Gift Aid

All the best Nick!

Donation by Dave Stott on 16/06/08

£10.00

+ £2.82 Gift Aid

Our prayers go with you. Stay safe.

Donation by Ronald & Evadney Gordon-Hill on 16/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Be safe and good luck!

Donation by Jayne Owen on 16/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

Hope that you can speak some Russian. Go well x

Donation by Diana Houghton on 16/06/08

£200.00

+ £56.41 Gift Aid

bon voyage!

Donation by sheila fleming on 16/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 Gift Aid

On yerself Nick, pedal to the metal my son :-D

Donation by Das Root on 16/06/08

£20.00

+ £5.64 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.