Bid to drive to Mongolia in Suzuki Alto
IT'S the kind of terrain even the toughest of 4x4s might struggle with.
So driving 10,000 miles to Mongolia in a one-litre Suzuki Alto may not seem the brightest of ideas on the face of it.
But where there's a will there's a way and adventurers Johnny Tollemache, Geordie Palmer and Bertie Trower certainly have the will.
Student Johnny, from Stow – son of High Sheriff of Gloucestershire Hugh Tollemache – was so moved by the work of charity Rokpa on a trip with them two years ago he was determined to do everything he can to help.
Its work is targeted towards the Tibetan areas of China and Nepal, with additional projects in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Rokpa, which literally translates as "to help" in Tibetan, supporting the poorest of the poor with education, healthcare and shelter, regardless of religion or culture.
So Johnny, 21, and his friends Geordie and Bertie shelled out £750 on the bright yellow Suzuki to enter the Mongol Rally, which starts from Dover Castle on July 12, in Rokpa's aid.
"We took it to a mechanic after we'd bought it and he said he doubted it would even make it to Dover," said Johnny, who is friends with the other two from their time at Eton.
"But the point of the trip is to make sure it's a challenge – if you did it in a Land Rover Discovery that would be defeating the point a bit."
The little Alto has 100,000 miles on the clock and will be driven by the trio through Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, arriving finally in Mongolia 40 days later – where they then have to sell it.
"None of us are experts when it comes to cars, but we think we can manage most problems that will come up," Johnny said. "If people want to donate, they will probably be doing it when we are stuck without a wheel in Iran out of sympathy."
They have already raised well over £4,000 and have had an anonymous pledge to double their final total.
Go to www.justgiving.com/Geordie-Johnny-Bert
OPINION, P8
So driving 10,000 miles to Mongolia in a one-litre Suzuki Alto may not seem the brightest of ideas on the face of it.
But where there's a will there's a way and adventurers Johnny Tollemache, Geordie Palmer and Bertie Trower certainly have the will.
Student Johnny, from Stow – son of High Sheriff of Gloucestershire Hugh Tollemache – was so moved by the work of charity Rokpa on a trip with them two years ago he was determined to do everything he can to help.
Its work is targeted towards the Tibetan areas of China and Nepal, with additional projects in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Rokpa, which literally translates as "to help" in Tibetan, supporting the poorest of the poor with education, healthcare and shelter, regardless of religion or culture.
So Johnny, 21, and his friends Geordie and Bertie shelled out £750 on the bright yellow Suzuki to enter the Mongol Rally, which starts from Dover Castle on July 12, in Rokpa's aid.
"We took it to a mechanic after we'd bought it and he said he doubted it would even make it to Dover," said Johnny, who is friends with the other two from their time at Eton.
"But the point of the trip is to make sure it's a challenge – if you did it in a Land Rover Discovery that would be defeating the point a bit."
The little Alto has 100,000 miles on the clock and will be driven by the trio through Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, arriving finally in Mongolia 40 days later – where they then have to sell it.
"None of us are experts when it comes to cars, but we think we can manage most problems that will come up," Johnny said. "If people want to donate, they will probably be doing it when we are stuck without a wheel in Iran out of sympathy."
They have already raised well over £4,000 and have had an anonymous pledge to double their final total.
Go to www.justgiving.com/Geordie-Johnny-Bert
OPINION, P8
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