The Moto-taxi Junket is a race across Peru on a woefully
underpowered moped taxi-bike (think tuk-tuk, but considerably worse!).
There is no set route; the distance of the race will range
between 3,500km and 5,000km. There is NO back-up or assistance.
The terrain encompasses the most dangerous roads in the world, from
single-track mountain passes (thousand metre abysses a few inches from your
wheels!) to desert and jungle mud. The weather will match the diversity of the
extreme terrain - everything from freezing cold high altitude to sweaty
rainforests.
With only 2 weeks to cover the distance and a top speed (on
flat and paved roads!!) of 40kmph, that is more than 9hrs / 350km a day!
Last time 62 teams left the start point in the Peruvian
Andes. 8 teams made it to the finish line.
The following comment is taken from a report on the event:
“Bones were broken, a moto-taxi plumetted off a cliff
into a river (without its drivers), one man was run over by his team mate,
£65,000 was raised for charity by the teams and to the disbelief of pretty much
everyone it was nobly demonstrated that taking rubbish moto-taxis across
massive mountains, into sweaty jungles and across barren deserty plains really
is a splendid idea.”
We are taking on this challenge to raise money for Missing
People, particularly because this is a very special charity for Sam. His cousin and good friend Blake Hartley, went missing two days
after his 25th birthday in Chamonix, France, on the 8th August, 2004. Blake
disappeared without a trace. Our challenge is dedicated to him.
The reason we chose
Missing People, is that it’s the UK’s only charity that works to act as a
lifeline for anyone who is missing in the UK, as well as their loved ones left
behind. Currently, not every call the charity receives can be answered and with
your help, Missing People can be a
lifeline to every single caller.
Obviously, we hope
that you will never have cause to use the services of Missing People, but if
you do, you will understand, as we do, just what an amazing job they do.
For more details on the challenge and how to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/moto-taxi
By Sam Beaver and James Montgomery,
in advance of their epic moto-taxi adventure in Peru - The Moto-Taxi Junket
No comments:
Post a Comment