Twins to take on mighty African challenge with a Land Rover
OTTONS LAND ROVER is helping two ambitious Wiltshire lads achieve their dream to raise at least £30,000 for two local charities and become the first people ever to run across the Kalahari Desert on foot.
Twins, Toby and Harry Mossop, aged 20, will use a Land Rover Defender as a support vehicle during their grueling adventure, which will see them (and two other team members) relay run 645 kilometres in just eight days - the equivalent of a half marathon every day for each team member - in searing heat and over tough terrain.
The Defender will play a vital role, carrying food, fuel and water, but also providing accommodation during the trip. Ottons Land Rover in Salisbury, part of the Westover Group, have supplied and fitted an expedition roof rack and ladder, worth nearly a thousand pounds, to help the daring duo get started on their mission to raise funds for Help for Heroes and the Tusk Trust.
“These guys impressed us with their manner and determination, their courage and craziness, from the moment they first came into the dealership!” says Suzy Otton, Marketing Manager. “We’re delighted to be able to support them in their drive to support two important local charities in this innovative way and wish them every success.”
As part of the expedition, Toby and Harry will drive 12,000 kilometres from Alexandria in Egypt to Cape Town in South Africa, passing through Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana on the way. They start their adventure later this year, leaving on 16 June and returning on 25 September.
“We’re travelling through the heart of one of Africa’s last wildernesses and we’ll be running in temperatures of around 35 degrees,” says Toby. “It’s a hostile desert environment where game is plentiful and largely undisturbed, so it’s definitely going to be challenging. Harry has taken on the role of team mechanic and will undergo some training under the watchful eye of a Land Rover technician before we leave, but we’re hoping his services won’t be required too frequently!
“We’re getting a tremendous degree of practical help, which means we can cut our costs and channel more money to the charities. There’s no doubt that we’ll appreciate the additional storage space on the roof – the vehicle is going to be packed to the gunnels and probably very smelly too!”
Help for Heroes is based in Tidworth and provides practical support to members of the Armed Forces who are wounded while serving in current conflicts. The Tusk Trust, which was established by a Chalke Valley family, supports conservation and community development initiatives in Africa. Anyone interested in supporting the Mossops on their African Descent and Trans-Kalahari Expedition or wishing to find out more, can contact them by emailing harrymossop@hotmail.co.uk.
If you would like further information about Ottons Land Rover and the vehicles and services they offer, please visit the dealership at Old Sarum Park in Salisbury, telephone 01722 414400, or go to www.westovergroup.co.uk.
© Motopia™ 2008