Vidahost goes to Mongolia...

[Seb]

I wanted to make a full feature on this but unfortunately didn't get a chance, so I'll post some information here instead!!

Vidahost is going to Mongolia! Or, we're not, but we are supporting a team that are. They're called the Cry in the Dark Drivers and they are doing the Mongol Rally. They're driving to raise money for Mercy Corps and Cry in the Dark, two worthy charities.

The Rally set off last weekend and the team have now reached Romania. I've received an update from them as follows:

We're six days in, and have just arrived at the Casa Albert Hospice in Bacau, Romania. I've just had my first shower in a week and cannot possibly describe how much I have taken having clean feet for granted in the past.

So far, everything's good. We've put in a few hardcore 15/16 hour days to get here and the roads have been alright. The car's are running well, despite the heat, but we've come to the end of the motorways so it'll only get tougher from here on out I reckon.

Here are some pictures of the car as they set off from Goodwood:




Here's some information on the charities. They are both really worthy charities, so if you'd like to donate you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/citdalexandra/

Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is an international development charity with European Headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland. It works in over 35 countries around the world, responding to global emergencies and carrying out longer term development work. Throughout all its work, Mercy Corps helps individuals, in some of the poorest countries in the world, to live a sustainable and independent life.

So how will Mercy Corps use the funds raised from the Mongol Rally? Well, it will help fund our vital work in Mongolia where it has been working since 1999. Its projects funded by the Mongol Rally enable Mercy Corps to help people in poor rural regions to make a lasting change for their community. The projects have included improving school facilities, creating job opportunities for women and building fresh water wells for villages with very limited access to clean water, to name a few.

Cry in the Dark
Cry in the Dark was founded in 1998, when Steve Cooper and three friends heard about children living in dire circumstances at Dofteana orphanage in Bacau, northeast Romania and went to see how they could help. They found 26 children in appalling conditions, suffering from malnutrition and neglect. Most had serious illnesses or disabilities. Their plight moved Steve’s compassion into action and Cry in the Dark was born.

Romanian local authorities re-located the children to a hospital. But conditions there were worse. So Cry in the Dark worked hard to urgently raise funds, build a home and find staff. Two years later 24 children moved to Casa Lumina (House of Light) – their new home-for-life.

[Chrissy Poo]

What a way to end that cars life

Would love to do something like that!

[Munday]

That looks pretty cool. Nice of you guys to sponsor as well!

[Jonny]

I'd also love to do something like. I should, even got the same car lol! :-)

[Seb]

The guys made it and are back - there are some great pics I'll post later today!

[Zach Nicodemous]

How interesting.

[Seb]

Bit of a delay (my fault), but as promised, here are some shots with our logo gratuitously displayed.

Here are some pictures of them camping en route, in some mud, with a cow in Mongolia (which is apparently like Scotland!), and at the finishing line!.

The most important thing - they raised a large amount of money for the two charities they were driving in aid of. So congratulations to the three of them.

[Chrissy Poo]

Did the car actually come back too or was it left there?

[Seb]

As far as I understand it, the cars get auctioned off at the end of the drive, and the money given to charity. You can drive it back, but it's a hassle enough getting visas to get all the way there - probably a nightmare getting double-entry visas all the way back too.