On July 23rd 2011, 3 intrepid adventurers will set off from Goodwood race track in the car of their dreams to travel 10,000 miles across 17 countries (at current count) as well as deserts and mountain ranges in an attempt to reach Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

Ok, well most of that is true.... although perhaps the "intrepid adventurers" and "car of their dreams" is pushing it a bit. In fact, we are four 20-somethings from the wilds of Norfolk and we'll be in a sturdy, but not glamourous Perodua Kelisa.

Why, you may very well ask, would you choose to do such a thing? Why would you want to share a car that is more suited to a trip to Central Norwich than Central Asia, with 2 other men for 5 weeks? Why would you travel through Turkmenistan in August in 50 degrees of heat? And isn’t Iran that place where they are (allegedly) building nuclear weapons, surely you wouldn’t go there?

Well take your pick. We are either 1) Clearly lunatics and the UK is better off without us anyway or 2) We all just wanted to have an adventure during the summer and this seemed just the ticket after an ale or two on a Friday night!

However, whichever you believe, there is another, critical reason for our journey which is the charitable aspect to our adventure. And it is for this reason that we are bothering you good people for some of your time to read this, and hopefully to donate some of your hard earned cash!

We are raising money for The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation which is based in Mongolia (and also Vietnam) and seeks to support homeless children, offering them a stable upbringing and access to education and healthcare. If you are interested in knowing more, then please ask us or visit their website at http://www.cncf.org/en/home/index.php

We have been supported by a number of organisations in our preparations.  The Cromer Car Centre (http://www.cromercarcentre.co.uk/) have given us support in preparing the car for our journey, giving up their time for free as well as providing additional spare parts etc.  KwikFit on Prince of Wales Road in Norwich provided a free service, whilst The Old Greshamian Club (Gresham's School Holt) and Breck Farm Potatoes have kindly made cash donations towards the costs of our trip.

There is one final twist to this story before I let you get back to your days…. of all the people that donate, one randomly selected individual will be rewarded with a spectacular prize which is currently a secret (even to us!). It may be Turkish delight from Istanbul, a Persian rug from Tehran, perhaps a photo of the team with a Borat look-a-like in Kazakhstan, or maybe just some duty free from Gatwick on the way home! But anyway, you’ve got to be in it to win it boys and girls, so please do give generously.

Thanks for your support,
The Dukes of Haphazard