This Boxing Day three young men from London will embark on a trip of a life time, as their battered 1978 Saab Turbo joins 200 bangers in the daring Plymouth to Banjul Trans-Saharan Challenge.
The adventurous trio, named ‘Team Sanddodgers’, aim to raise £10,000 for aid agency Tearfund and Macmillan Cancer Support by undertaking the 4,000 mile trip which takes them through Europe and down North Africa’s western coast to the Gambian capital Banjul.
‘Team Sanddodgers’ from left to right – Gareth Wallace, Jonathan Farley and Peter Laurie.
Says team member Gareth Wallace, “This trip really is a challenge of a lifetime. We’ll be crossing some of the most inhospitable terrain on earth, with no experience, in a clapped out car in a bid to raise as much money for charity as possible.”
The Plymouth to Banjul Challenge is designed for those with budgets unable to stretch to that required for the world renowned Paris-Dakar rally. Race rules include a £7.50 entrance fee, a £100 limit on the value of all competing cars and no more than £15 spent on the car’s pre-rally preparations.
The team comprises Gareth Wallace, Parliamentary Officer for Christian charity Evangelical Alliance, Jonathan Farley, a Mechanical Engineering PHD student, and Peter Laurie, systems engineer from London Tube Company Metronet. The three met whilst studying at Brunel University and all attend churches across the capital.
Earlier this year ‘Team Sanddodgers’ bought their classic Saab Turbo on Ebay and have since spent many evenings and weekends bringing the car up to scratch – something that taken a surprisingly small amount of work considering it spent the previous 4 years languishing in a field.
Says Gareth Wallace, “Our name is inspired by the knowledge that soap dodging and soft sand many be some of the unpleasant experiences that await us on our quest, not to mention poisonous snakes, unexploded landmines and dubious border guards.”
The team were inspired to participate by Christian explorer Bear Grylls who overcame a broken back to become the youngest British climber ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest and return alive.
Says Gareth Wallace, “I heard Bear speak at a prayer breakfast some years ago. He was such a motivational speaker, an incredible athlete and an amazing Christian witness. We realised we had to come up with a slightly different way of achieving what our hero Bear has, preferably without the bodily pain and superhuman levels of exercise!”
‘Team Sanddodgers’ have already raised £7,000 of their £10,000 fundraising target, from online donations, merchandise sales, including t-shirts and Christmas Cards and generous support from team member Peter Laurie’s employer, Metronet.
Worship leader Andy Flanagan is among the team’s many supporters. He recently raised £350 by auctioning a private gig on E-bay, to play a gig in the highest bidder’s front room.
Due to the strict rules, their food, tools, spares and petrol money is being raised by companies and individuals being invited to sponsor an A4 square on the side of their car for £55 each. The team have also raised over £3,000 in sticker sponsorship and will donate surplus money to their charity fund.
Paul Brigham, Tearfund’s UK Director said, “The courage, commitment and adventurous spirit displayed by Gareth, Jonathan and Peter are truly inspirational. We are enormously grateful for their tireless commitment to support Tearfund and our partners as we too seek to tackle major challenges, such as HIV/AIDS.”
To follow ‘Team Sanddodgers’ progress visit www.sanddodgers.co.uk where the team intend to post video blogs throughout the rally.
PICTURE OPPORTUNITY: See ‘Team Sanddodgers’ and others depart for the Plymouth to Banjul Trans-Saharan Challenge on Tuesday 26th December, 11am, from Hyde Park’s triangular car park. For more details contact: Gareth Wallace on 07939 208518. The team return to London on 16 January. All cars that complete the gruelling race are auctioned for Gambian charities at the rally’s end in Banjul.