Mongolian Rally

Charity Rally raises money for Save the Children

The vehicles are revving up, preparing to drive 10,000km from London to Mongolia for charity.

The Mongolian Charity Rally, organised by GoHelp to raise money for Save the Children, takes place on July 11th and teams will end up in Ulaan Baatar, the Mongolian capital.

It kicks off after a Mongolian festival in Highbury Fields, Islington, which promises a whole range of Mongolian-themed events including the Naadam, or wrestling competition, archery and Mongolian food.

As well as raising money for charity, the teams donate their vehicles to the Mongolian authorities at the end. As such, there are strict guidelines as to what is acceptable to drive, so that the Mongolian people get what they really need. Motorbikes are encouraged, as these are useful for herders, though many drive ambulances or off-road vehicles.

The rally does not follow a specific route so the time it takes is varied. The shorter route through Russia can be completed in eight days, while the longer route, which also goes through Iran, can take a month or more and is around 10,000km.

Entry to the competition costs £350 per team, plus a deposit to bring the vehicle into Mongolia - £400 to enter the north border and £800 for the west.

There is another fee imposed by the Mongolian government to stop old models entering the country, though working vehicles and motorbikes are free from the tax. If a car is too old and of a certain type, the fee could be as much as £2400.

Organisers GoHelp say all money spent, other than personal costs, will go into the charity fund which will go towards helping native Mongolians.

For more information, visit http://mongolia.charityrallies.org/