How far would you go to support a good cause? Writing a check or volunteering time many of us do, but how about flying across the world to India? Not just to India, but then committing to driving 3,000 km in a Rickshaw, (which is designed only for short distances, very unreliable and only has a 7 hp engine,) on some of the world’s busiest and worst roads, with no set route, extreme weather conditions…the list of challenges and obstacles goes on and on. No it’s not an episode of Survivor or the Great Race, this event is called the Rickshaw Race.
This race was started years ago by ‘The Adventurists,” who have raised over 1 million dollars each year for charities around the world. Because of the brave souls who have participated in the Rickshaw Race in previous years, over 100,000 people in India now have access to clean drinking water, making a profound and lasting effect on their lives. Atlas Cruises & Tours is celebrating 25 years in business, and we wanted to do our part to make a difference in the world. However, none of us are prepared for “extreme fundraising,” so we chose to sponsor three courageous travel bloggers. Below you will find a guest post written by Sarah, one of the participants. They will be providing us with several updates leading up to the event. Join us in following them on an adventure of a lifetime.
A Rough Guide to the Rickshaw Run India 2013
By Sarah Chamberlain
On January 1st, 2013, 70 teams from across the globe will converge in the northern Indian desert town of Jaisalmer to commence The Rickshaw Run India 2013. Teams will have two days of test driving their three-wheeled, highly unreliable vehicles before taking to the chaotic streets and highways of India. Their final destination: the town of Cochin in the southern state of Kerala, some 3000 km away.
Why? To raise money for clean water charity, Frank Water, and in the words of event organisers, ‘The Adventurists,’ “make the world less boring.”
Three thrill seekers participating in the event from team “Namaste Outta My Way,” Kim Dinan (USA), Hannah Loaring (UK) and Sarah Chamberlain (AUS), have already raised over $1000 for Frank Water. They have started a blog to document their preparation and progress called The Rickshaw Run Diaries.
Kindly sponsored by Atlas Cruises and Tours who have contributed to the girls’ expedition costs, The Rickshaw Run Diaries will serve as a reference for future participants in The Rickshaw Run, and will be an entertaining and heart-warming account of the challenges they face along the way.
Oh and there’s one more thing, they haven’t actually met each other yet.
The three women struck up an online friendship through their travel blogs, where they write about their life-changing journeys to become ‘round-the-world travelers.
Kim is currently volunteering in Ecuador with her husband, Hannah is due to fly out to the beaches of Goa any day, and Sarah is currently learning Spanish (badly) in Mexico.
The official charity of The Rickshaw Run, Frank Water, is a UK-based non-profit, implementing community based clean water programs throughout rural India and Africa. Money raised will provide bacteria and disease-free drinking water to communities in need, preventing unnecessary illness and death.
To find out more about this crazy adventure, visit The Rickshaw Run Diaries, support a great cause and follow an epic adventure.
