On Reflection and Finally We Thank You!!

The Rickshaw Run By Numbers

• 14 Days constant driving.
• 10-16 Hours per Day
• 4689Km in total
• Average speed 35-40Km
• 70kmph - Our top speed. once only
• £4690 Raised for the Alzheimer's Society and the Frank Water Project by our team alone
• 0 Casualties - on our team
• 23 mosquito bites
• 75 Strong bottles of Kingfisher
• 84 Curries 
• 2 Clutch cables
• 5 complete brake failures
• 2 spark plugs
• 1600 unique blog views
• 1507 photographs
• 2 hours of video
• 5 flights
• 5 in flight movies
• 1 arrest on board flight at arrival at Heathrow. not us
• 50,000 people at immigration on our return
• 9 English cans of 9% Super Skol in homage to India
• 2 very inspired young men

With the rally now 2 weeks behind us it's hard to comprehend what we actually achieved in such little time. Its even harder to think it only finished 14 days ago.
We have both had a our well deserved break from the chaos that was India, jet lag maybe but we know it was more sheer and utter exhaustion.  There is no way to train for that kind of punishment, in fact, if it wasn't for India being such a marvelous, diverse and interesting country i doubt we would have had the commitment to get out of bed so early morning after morning just to slave over the roads every day. The reality is it was such a wonderful, glorious and colourful experience that no tiredness couldn't have marred this experience, even when Lloyd was asleep in the back of the Rickshaw and James was doubled over in a truck stop toilet they still had little bad to say about the beauty that is India.


What did shock and perturb us was actually the reason we were there. The FRANK WATER PROJECTS was the charity chosen in India to receive our donations. Each team had to raise a minimum £1000 for charity, £500 of which would go to Frank Water. (Albeit to date we actually raised £1020 for FW alone) As most of you know we also chose the Alzheimer's society as our main charity receiver. We would not change that for the world. The guys at the Alzheimer's Society do a splendid job and they deserve all the money they can get. (to date - £3600+)
But what we did become aware of was how much help India still needs. The water situation out there is still dire. the quality of the water, the origins of the water and the amount of times the water is recycled without being cleaned or filtered is really depressing. People are still dying in India as a result of contaminated water.
It was common to see what we thought were albinos but they were not, they had in fact been poisoned and their skin disorder is actually a result of metal poisoning due to mining and or poor quality water abstraction. All we know is that when we told people in India what we were doing and why we were doing it they rejoiced and tried to hand us money, it wasn't until we arrived in Darjeeling one man in particular shook each of our hands and tried to thrust 100 Rupees in our pockets, his words of thanks literally brought tears to our eyes. He could not comprehend why someone from one country would want to raise money and travel to another mans country to help out people we didn't know or would have no direct benefit from. He compared us to latter day saints. Far from what our mothers call us, of this you can be sure, but at that moment we promised each other that we would champion the Frank Water Project as their efforts have such a hugh impact on the lives of people in India. - please click read more




If i could ask you one last thing it would be - Please if you could spare even £1 please, please give that one pound to the Frank Water Project via - HERE. having seen the faces of the children who will benefit from the money I can hand on my heart say its worth every penny.

Finally we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone to donated, contributed and followed our blog, to live these moments with you all really has been a pleasure, Thank you every one of you.  Finally - an extra special thank you to the following people who with out whom this trip would not have been possible.

Granite - Search and Selection. Recruitment. - James's employer

Main Stay Procurement - Social ethical procurement - C/O Lloyd's Friend Joanne Lyons

The Rutt Family, especially Peter - for such a barrage of relentless sponsorship.

Lloyd's mother Sue and family and friends for rallying together and producing such a hefty amount.

Russell Edmonds and Family for their hugh donation.

... of course not forgetting James lady Zara Tuhill and Lloyd's Julie for their support, lifts to and from the airport and their moral lifting messages from home.

For now

Lloyd "G" & James "T" signing off.