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In keeping with its support for children's charities, Amatica is proud to be sponsoring Tom and Graham Ibbotson in their bid to complete the 2007 Plymouth to Banjul Challenge.

Tom and Graham are making the 3700 mile trek to raise money for Kids Action, a charity which helps to give destitute children and orphans in Sierra Leone and Malawi the chance of a decent start in life.

The route to Banjul in Gambia takes the team overland through France, Spain, Morocco, the Western Sahara, Mauritania and Senegal and into Gambia. If that wasn’t challenging enough, they must complete the trek in a left hand drive car that was purchased for no more than £100. With no official support for participants, the teams must rely on their own wit, skills and teamwork to reach their destination.

Tom and Graham set off from Oulton Park in Cheshire yesterday and should reach Banjul in around 3 weeks. Their car, a 1988 Renault 21 Savanna, will be auctioned in The Gambia, where cars are a rare but valuable commodity. The money raised is donated to deserving local children’s charities.

The Plymouth to Banjul challenge was set up in 2003, as a 'poor man's' alternative to the Paris / Dakar Rally. The aim is simply to drive from the UK to Banjul on a limited budget, while raising money for charitable causes in Senegal and the Gambia.

We will be tracking Tom and Graham’s progress throughout their bid to reach Banjul, so watch this space!

© Amatica 02/02/2007