Through the Sahara for a Good Cause

Pink Trabant after a 4,200 mile trip

Land Rover - one of the fanciest cars in the Challenge

A little after we arrived in the Gambia, cars covered with lots of sponsors’ logos at varying stages of disrepair had also arrived in the country. These had all made it through the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge. This road-trip starts in southern England and makes its way through the Sahara desert to end up finally in the Gambia. This year 191 vehicles completed the roughly three-week journey. The official website http://www.plymouth-banjul.co.uk/ says that the cars shouldn’t be bought for more than 100 pounds (about $200). Once the autos arrive, they are auctioned off for charity in the Gambia at the National Stadium.

The last of the auctions took place on Sunday. The local hosts of the events associated with the Challenge are wonderful people that I’ve gotten to know. They’re dedicated to doing so many good things for and with the Gambians. The proceeds of the auctions benefit the Association for Small-Scale Enterprises in Tourism (promoting local entrepreneurial efforts and sustainable development) and the Gambian National Olympic Committee. This year they raised over 6 million Dalassis (over $214,000), with over 20 million Dalassis since the race began, making it one of the most successful non-governmental fundraisers in the country.

The motto for the Challenge is: “No Money. No Worries. No Problem.” The drivers range from “highly professional” to what’s affectionately known as “petrol heads.” The cars are fun to see on the street, covered with all kinds of wacky logos and probably attached to an incredible adventure story – if only they could talk. I’ve seen some with hand-painted tallies on the side doors with: “# of Breakdowns” and “# of Repairs.” There have been London taxis, fire engines, ice cream trucks, an ambulance, a 30-seater bus, and a range of 4-wheel drive vehicles as well as tiny compact cars (including the Eastern European Trabant, which I had never heard of before this). This is one of the wackiest fundraisers I’ve heard of, involving the most diverse – and unlikely – people for some great causes, meeting face-to-face and, in the end, learning about each other’s cultures and becoming friends.