Peter drives family on 13,000-mile adventure

STEFAN JAJECZNYK

AFAMILY of intrepid adventurers are preparing to buckle up for a 13,000mile driving adventure.

A team led by Peter Ormerod, of Helmshore, will head off on an epic two-month charity drive to Siberia, via Mongolia - placing their faith in an 11-year-old Renault Kangoo.

They are taking part in this year’s Mongol Rally - an annual event running since 2004 - with participants raising funds for environmental charity Cool Earth, as well as a charity of their own choosing - in this case, Rossendale Hospice.

The challenge brings the family together as son Rob works as a conservationist in Estonia - while Chris, a business analyst, and Ric, a training director, work in Haslingden.

Peter, 61, will also be joined by wife Janet, also retired, brother-in-law Jim from Lytham, and cousin Gary, who lives in Elgin in Scotland.

Peter’s team is called ‘Say No to Slippers’, which represents living life to the full.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to do an epic overland adventure, and this is perfect.

“A real challenge, and a great way to see amazing places and people, make new friends and raise money for Rossendale Hospice, a vitally important local cause.

“We each have our own reasons for doing this adventure, in my case, the sudden loss of a close friend last year gave me a sharper focus on what’s really important”.

From their starting point in Helmshore, the team will head to Prague where the event starts.

Peter and his team will then travel down through the Balkans to Turkey, into Georgia and across the Caspian Sea, through the challenging terrain of the Eurasian Steppe into Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and to Siberia to the finish line.

Peter added: “From there, teams can either sell or scrap their cars, ship them back to Estonia on the trans-Siberian railway, or drive them home - which is what we hope to do.”

The team will mostly be braving the elements by camping overnight and will take turns to drive sections of the tricky route.

Due to set off in July, the team have, so far, raised £4,482 towards their target of £10,000.

The team are welcoming sponsorship, and are offering advertising space on the car.

To follow the team and to donate or sponsor, visit saynotoslippers.com ●● Peter and Janet Ormerod, with their children, Chris, Ric and Rob - with the car with which they will complete the 13,000-mile long Mongol Rally