UK man drives autorickshaw across country for charity

The autorickshaw is not a common sight in the United Kingdom, but a British man is setting off on a journey across the nation on Monday to raise funds for charity organisation Healing Little Hearts, active in India and other countries.

Fitted with a pacemaker, Steve Gibbs, who is based in Wigston in the east Midlands, wants to raise £6000 pounds for the Leicestershire charity by riding his favourite Bajaj autorickshaw.

Some autorickshaws – better known as tuk-tuks here – are allowed to operate on short journeys in parts of the country. The India-style cycle rickshaw is more visible in central London, where customers use them to traverse short distances or around tourist attractions.

Seeking funds online, Gibbs said: “I am now 77 years old and kept alive by a heart pacemaker. For me to help these desperate children is payback time.”

Gibbs aims to cover 3,000 miles in 21 days.

He will travel to 12 points across the UK in the autorickshaw. They are Lizard Point, Land’s End, Lowestoft Ness and Marshall’s Meadow Bay (in England); Lady Wood Park, Breaksea Point, St Justinian’s Bay and Point of Ayre (in Wales); and Mull of Galloway, Adnamurchan Point, Dunnet Head and Keith’s Inch, Peterhead (in Scotland).

The Healing Little Hearts charity is founded by Leicesterbased consultant Sanjiv Nichani.

In 2016, Gibbs completed a 2,500 mile-journey across the UK to raise funds for Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation.