Next stop Mongolia for globetrotter Pete Donnelly

FOR seasoned traveller Peter Donnelly a road trip from Europe to Mongolia holds no fears as he proved last year, when he took a very unconventional route home travelling in his wheelchair all the way from Bangladesh.

The 25-year-old globetrotter will be in a team of three paraplegics, called the Wheelie Wanderers taking part in the Mongol Rally.

They are aiming to raise around £10,000 for the charity Back Up Trust, which helps those who have been confined to a wheelchair after suffering a spinal injury.

Speaking to the Star just before he set out, Peter, from Wolseley Road, Cowley Hill said he was “massively excited” about the journey.

“We will be travelling across deserts in Iran, through Turkmenistan and Tajikistan and finally Mongolia. It should take around six weeks.

“There are hundreds of teams taking place and what we are told is to make our own way there.”

Peter’s travelling companions are Jan Monaghan from Liverpool and Richard Cooke from Weston Super Mare.He described their motivation and spirit of adventure: “We’re doing something that we’ve never done before and try to break down preconceptions of disability.”

The Wanderers will be travelling in a Rover 75 estate, they have called Virginia. He joked: “It’s a good job we know each other because we will be sat together in the car every day.”

You can follow Pete and the team’s progress via their Facebook page Wheelie Wanderers or on Twitter @RollingBackHome