Me and some fellow colleagues are taking part in the Rikshaw Run next April. We're raising money for two charities:
The London Air Ambulance serves the nation's capital 24 hours a day. Working with some of the finest doctors, paramedics and pilots in the world, the air ambulance delivers advanced trauma care to seriously injured people in London. They deliver literally life saving treatments to people on a daily basis, from severe road traffic accidents, rail crashes, stabbings, shootings, high altitude falls, and much more. Their work is dependent on charitable donations, their work is not funded by the taxpayer. I work with these doctors on a daily basis, and their expertise and professionalism is something to behold.
The sponsored charity is Cool Earth, who work with indigenous populations to help them protect rainforests from deforestation, working to make these populations legal owners of the land to prevent private firms taking advantage.
We're driving across the span of India in tuk tuks, which are small 140cc motorbikes with a bench on the back. The journey ranges from 3000-5000km depending on which roads we take and will take about 2 weeks to travel, with a top bike speed of 55km/h. The website describes rikshaws as 'possibly the least suitable vehicle on the planet for covering the entire Indian subcontinent in 2 weeks' so it's going to be a hell of a ride.
Within our team are 2 London Air Ambulance Paramedics, an A&E Consultant, and 2 A&E nurses, so at least we know the diarrhoea and vomiting will get a sympathetic response from fellow team mates. The London Air Ambulance is close to all of our hearts, and the work they do is truly outstanding, so I hope you all will dig deep and help us raise a small fortune.
Thanks for your time.
