Adventure for charity - European auto drivers cover 4000km with their last halt at Gangtok Sikkim

Gangtok, April 8: Seventy international teams which hit the road on autorickshaws in Kochi on March 28 are rolling one by one into Gangtok — the final stop of an adventurous 4,000km run.

The teams have 160 participants from 20 European countries and most of them are from the UK. They are pushing on with the gruelling trip from the coastal city to the Himalayan jewel nestled at 4,700 feet under The Rickshaw Run, organised by a UK-based charity organisation The Adventurists.

“The teams have already raised £83,520, which will be donated to two charity organisations in India, Frank Water Projects and Mercy Corps,” said Vikash Pradhan, the chief of field operations for South Asia, The Adventurists.

Nine teams have already reached Gangtok in colourful autorickshaws and they were greeted by the residents, who are accustomed to only four-wheelers and two-wheelers.

The remaining teams will reach Gangtok by April 11.

The finishing line of the 70 autorickshaws is the entrance to MG Marg in front of the Sikkim Tourism office where the teams could be seen whopping with joy after what they said was the most memorable ride in their lives.

The rides are culminating in Sikkim at a time the state is celebrating the Year of Tourism. “Beautiful scenery, beautiful people and the beautiful attitude to life up here will come as a great relief for the teams who reach Gangtok. The trips synchronise with the Year of Tourism being celebrated by the state. We urge all in Gangtok to come and laugh at the tourists struggling with the altitude,” said Matthew Dickens, director of operations of the South Asia Branch of The Adventurists.

Not contended with arriving with a bang in Sikkim, the “autorickshawallahs” are determined to display some soccer skills also in the state of Bhaichung Bhutia. They will play an exhibition football match against local journalists at Paljor Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Pradhan said each team was contributing at least £1,000 for the charity. We had already raised £83,520; the large amount of £4780 was donated by a UK team, Baggy Greens. The money raised from the event will be donated to Frank Water Projects and Mercy Corps.”

Frank Water Projects provides sustainable and affordable clean water solutions to communities who desperately need it using the latest technology. It will use the funds to build a clean water facility in India.

Mercy Corps will fund a project for rural farming communities at Jasodapur village in Orissa with the money they get from the riders, said the organisers.

Source: The Telegraph