by Alan Quick

A YEOFORD woman and her Cornish friend will soon be attempting to drive 10,000 miles from the UK to Siberia to raise money for two charities - Cool Earth and Surfers Against Sewage!

India, and her friend Ester, will take part in The Mongol Rally, which is described as “the greatest motoring adventure on the planet” which thunders 10,000 miles across the mountains, desert and steppe of Europe and Asia each summer.

India, explained: “There’s no backup, no support and no set route.

“In a Honda HRV, we will attempt the rally, whilst raising funds for Surfers Against Sewage and Cool Earth.”

Each year, around 300 teams take part.

Vehicles include old ambulances, London Black Cabs, Nissan Micras, and even the odd Porche.

Leaving from Goodwood Motor Circuit on Sunday, July 16, the team will head through France, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, on through Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, through Serbia, Bulgaria and onto Turkey.

From there, the route is through Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, where the girls intend to take a boat across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan.

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan follow, before a brief visit into Russia then onto Mongolia.

The finish line is in Ulan-Ude, located in Eastern Siberia.

Neither India or Ester has any mechanical experience whatsoever, but they say they have a rough idea about how to change a tyre, and where the car battery is located.

The girls intend to camp as much as possible, or sleep in the car when necessary, and plan to live on a diet of porridge and cup-a-soup.

Having just graduated from Cardiff University, Ester, from Downderry in Cornwall, and India, say they saw the adventure as a suitable way to end 20 years of education, before the reality of being an adult fully sets in.

The pair have a GoFundMe page to raise money for their chosen charities: https://funds.gofundme.com/dashboard/qq4z6v-mongol-rally-2017 .

India explained that anyone who donates will be immediately entered into a raffle to win prizes which include Exeter Chiefs and Eden Project Tickets, a Riverford Organic Farmers’ Box, as well as many others!

Surfers Against Sewage protect the UK’s oceans and beaches, so that in the future many more people can enjoy our coastlines. The charity does regular beach cleans, and is based in Cornwall.

Cool Earth is an environmental charity which works in partnership with indigenous communities to protect the rainforest.

You can follow the girls adventure on “Instagram” or “Facebook”, and their team name is The Rusty Jugglers.