Student’s epic trip in a Lada

Jul 4 2008 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A STUDENT from Perthshire is gearing up for an epic transcontinental charity challenge starting tomorrow.

Iain Robertson (22) is aiming to drive with two university friends from London to Ulaanbaatar, the baking-hot capital of Mongolia, in a 4X4 Lada Niva Cossack car.

Taking in some of the most difficult driving conditions on the planet, the four-to-six-week journey will cover around 8000 miles.

En route to their destination, the third year automotive engineering student and his pals with pass through the likes of Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Iain, from Bridge of Earn, said the intrepid trio hope to raise over £1000 for Mongolian charities Gemin-i, Camda and CDPF.

“I love travelling and seeing new places, and can’t wait to see some serious deserts,” he told the PA yesterday.

“We've bought a Lada Niva for the journey, which has needed some preparing to survive the trip.

“I also love cars so this is a good excuse for me to get my hands dirty.”

Iain said all monies raised will go directly towards helping impoverished people in Mongolia, which is the world’s second largest landlocked country, but with a population of just 2.9 million.

“Two of our charities work with children and the other works in nomadic communities,” he explained.

“Gemin-i are bringing children worldwide together through the introduction of specialist educational computer systems.

“Camda do a lot of work within nomadic communities and help ensure the health of their main source of life, their livestock.

“CDPF work with Mongolian children who suffer through poverty, violence, disease or injustice and we are supporting them by donating our car to them on arrival in Ulaanbaatar.

“They are then free to use the car for their own work or auction it off to raise funds.”

The Leeds University student described the Lada as “the perfect choice” to give to the Mongolians, for three highly practical reasons.

“They can easily get spares from Russia, it’s very basic and simple to fix and, unlike those donated by similar rallies, it’ll run for years to come,” said Iain.

“The car cost £600 from a local garage and has been used mainly for off-roading.

“It’s fitted with big off-road tyres and wheels, but it came with extra wheels fitted with road tyres.”

After securing sponsorship from Earnvale Consulting, the crew decided to name their team after the Bridge of Earn firm.

Further backing from Telivo Internet Solutions and various fund-raising activities have helped push the trio’s cash tally towards four figures.

To make a donation, visit the team’s website www.earnvaleracing.co.uk