April Fools' Day Marks Launch of Cambodian Tuk Tuk Challenge

Eight British teams are lined up on the starting grid of the inaugural Cambodian Tuk Tuk Challenge in Siem Reap, Cambodia, preparing to overcome 500 miles of dirt roads, jungles, pot-holes and paddy fields to raise money for UK registered charity Go Help, which engages the public in awesome adventures to support charitable projects in the destination country of its events.

The charity chariots will hit the road at daybreak on April Fools Day and - with a bit of luck and a lot of sweat - will roll across the finish line on Saturday, 10 April 2010, having overcome some of the world’s most dangerous roads in their motorised rickshaws.

The Cambodian rickshaws themselves are simply mopeds rigged up to tow a sofa-bed on wheels.  Teams have “pimped up” their Tuk Tuks with designs ranging from a gin and tonic glass to the O.K. Corral.  After being put together by local Cambodian mechanics, teams will take to the road and once the Challenge is conquered, these charity chariots will be used to support a driving school and teach local Cambodian women to become Tuk Tuk taxi drivers, thus providing them with new avenues to earn a living wage.  Go Help and MaD will run the Cambodian Tuk Tuk Challenge a few times a year, with the next Cambodian Tuk Tuk Challenge kicking off on Sunday, 4 July 2010!