A driving passion to help Missing People

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