A 12,000 mile scooter trek awaits Newbury man
The trip will take 121 days across 17 countries from England to Mongolia, starting today (Wednesday)
A NEWBURY man sets off today (Wednesday) to travel more than 12,000 miles, across the Arctic Circle and Gobi Desert, on his scooter for charity.
Thirty-year-old Danny Harrow, of London Road, gave up his job to be able to take part in the Mongolia Charity Rally from London to the Mongol capital of Ulaanbaatar, which will see him travel across 17 countries, including France, Finland, Russia and Kazakhstan.
He has given himself 121 days to travel the 12044 miles on his newly purchased 85cc Honda C90 scooter, which he calls Sprocket and cruises between 30-40mph.
"The scooter has pretty good pedigree, it's already been on two charity treks," Mr Harrow said. "The previous owner took it from Lands End to John O'Groats for the UK Fire Service's wrong way up ride.
"He was delighted that this bike that he rebuilt for charity treks would be going to Mongolia for charity.
"It currently has 23,000 miles on the clock so I will be adding more than half of that after the trip.”
The New Zealander, who moved to Newbury two years ago, will be raising money for Go Help, which funds health and education projects in Central Asia and the developing world.
His fundraising total will be matched by his former employers at the Newbury-based telecommunications company Vodafone, which he left to prepare for the challenge.
Mr Harrow said: "The most difficult part of the journey will be a road in Tajikistan which you need permission to drive on.
"The road goes from 500 meters high to 3,500 meters high with views in neighbouring Afghanistan.
"That will be make or break for the trip.
"The other hurdle will be in the Stans where it could be up to 300 miles between fuel stations so I will be taking fuel tanks with me and lots of the spares for the bike."
At the end of the trip all the participants hand over their vehicles to the Go Help.
Mr Harrow added: "I'm either going to cry when I hand Sprocket over or I'll hand it over and run."
To sponsor the Newbury man, click on the link below.
