Rickshaw Run August 2015

In August we; Alex, Hillary, Logan, Matthew, Morgan, and Rebecca; are travelling to India to squeeze into two classic Indian auto-rickshaws for over 10 hours a day in searing heat. Our only respite from the sweltering conditions will come with the monsoon season and the resulting floods. This arduous 3 week journey will take us from Shillong in the north-east to Cochin in the south. This should be about 3500km, but with no set route and a Scouts honour to abstain from modern navigation tools, this number has the potential to balloon.

So why would we put ourselves through something as crazy as this? Because what better way to raise money for two epic, but very different causes?

- New Zealand Red Cross Nepal earthquake appeal -

In April a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal. This earthquake killed at least 8,519, injured thousands, damaged or destroyed 850,000 homes, and left more than two million Nepalese homeless. Red Cross is currently working to provide shelter for those in the hardest hit areas to help them get through the upcoming monsoon season. Donated funds will go towards tents and tarpaulins to give shelter to the many who have none.

www.redcross.org.nz

- Cool Earth -

Every year 25 million acres of rainforest is cleared. That's an area the size of Iceland. Cool Earth is a charity that works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction. A whole acre of pristine Peruvian rainforest can be left to its merry self for just $150 - that's less than Alex would spend at the casino.

www.coolearth.org

While sitting in a rickshaw for three weeks won't solve these mammoth issues, reaching our fundraising goal of $5000 will help Cool Earth save 16 acres of rainforest and will support Red Cross to provide shelter for thousands of people in Nepal.

So, what can you do I hear you ask...

- Donate! Every cent counts.

- Spread the word. Friends, family, social media, colleagues, the more the merrier.

- Follow us on Facebook (see the link below)

If you're not driven by philanthropy how about good yarns? When you donate, make sure you add your email address in the comment (or flick us a message on social media) so we can keep you entertained with exclusive updates, photos, and videos, of our escapades across India!

The Nitty Gritty

- You're not paying for us: 100% of the funds raised go to charity. None of the donated funds will be used to cover the costs of doing the Rickshaw Run, getting us to and from India or the various overseas expeditions that are currently underway.

- How the funds will be split: Every donation that is made is automatically split in two then donated to Red Cross and Cool Earth evenly. This way you look extra generous for making two donations.

- How the money will be handled: Half the money donated goes directly from Givealittle to Red Cross. The other half goes into an account we have set up on behalf of Cool Earth. We will transfer this money to Cool Earth on the last day of the Rickshaw Run, including even the most minuscule amount of interest. No clipping the ticket here guys.

- Dealing with the Taxman: Every donor will receive an official Tax Donation Receipt for the Red Cross portion of your donation. As Cool Earth is not registered in New Zealand givealittle cannot automatically generate tax receipts. If you're donating from outside New Zealand and/or need a tax receipt for any donations made, please contact us directly before you donate. We will work with you to try get you what you need.

- Still have a question? If you have any questions or concerns (apart from for our safety, our mums have that covered) feel free to get in touch with any of us.