Member Article

Business gets behind local pair's 18,000-mile adventure

A PAIR of North East adventurers are preparing to set off on the trip of a lifetime – a 18,000-mile journey to Russia and back in a 15-year old Nissan Micra, all in the name of charity.

Friends Richard Stebbings and Nathan Graham are taking part in the infamous Mongol Rally, which sees competitors driving thousands of miles across the mountains, desert and steppe of Europe and Asia.

The pair, from Chester-le-Street, have received support from a variety of local businesses, including Sunderland-based IT and telecoms company CCS, which has sponsored their car – a 2001 silver Micra bought for £300, a budget set by the challenge organisers.

Managing director of CCS, Chris Lee, said: “When we heard what the guys were doing we couldn’t believe it, we thought anyone prepared to take on that kind of challenge to raise money for charity deserved support, so we offered to become a sponsor. We’ll be following their progress throughout the journey and can’t wait to hear about their adventures when they return, I’m sure they’ll have a tale or two to tell.”

Setting off from Goodward this Sunday, the pair, both aged 29, expect their journey to take two months. With no specific challenge route in place, competitors must plot their own journey and will receive no support along the way.

They are aiming to raise £3,000 which will be split between the rally’s official charity Cool Earth and their chosen charities Alzheimer’s Research UK and If U Care Share.

Richard said: “This is something I’ve wanted to do for about 10 years but this is the first time I’ve had the time and money to be able to do it. I’m lucky as I run my own business so have been able to get the time off, but I have no mechanical skills whatsoever so it is definitely going to be a challenge.

“We’ve been really pleased with the level of support from local businesses such as CCS, we’ve had people donating equipment, money and their skills to help us prepare for the journey and we’re hoping to raise as much as possible to donate to our chosen charities, both of which have real personal significance to me and Nathan – both our grandfathers suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and Nathan personally knows Dean and Shirley who set up If U Care Share, which supports people affected by suicide.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by CCS .