IT’S billed as motoring stupidity on a global scale. But the drive from Europe to Mongolia — highly unsuitable car a must — is being taken to a new level by three women hoping to raise thousands of pounds for a homeless charity.
Roisin Mohan, from Downpatrick, is joining Elaine Taylor and Aoife Raleigh in the Mongol Rally 2013 for 10,000 miles of adventure in some of the most remote terrain on the planet.
It’s an expedition that normally attracts the boys — so not only are Roisin and co doing it for women drivers, they have also picked the longest and hardest of three routes, which will take them through the likes of Iran, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on their way to Mongolia.
With the cars taking part having to be 2004 or younger, and with a 1.2 litre engine or less, Roisin has the likes of the modest Renault Twingo in mind for the mammoth journey.
A local youth and community worker by day, Roisin heard her two friends from the Streetwise Community Samba Band were considering the challenge and was invited on board.
The Taillte Tank Girls as they are called — the only all girl team currently registered for the marathon event — will be donating all the money they raise to Homeplus NI Ltd., a Belfast-based homeless charity, and Cool Earth, a global charity that protects rainforest communities.
They are therefore looking for sponsors and donations to enable them to make the six week journey across Ireland, England, France, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Croatia, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia, to their destination in Mongolia.
“We thought about a homeless charity during the recent weather, imagining how cold it must be on the streets, and also considering the fact that a homeless shelter in Belfast was recently shut down,” said Roisin, who recently took part in a major fundraiser for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund For Children.
“We are the first all-girl team from Ireland. But Aoife, who is from West Meath, is an engineer by trade and has been doing a car mechanic course, so she will probably reinforce and raise the suspension for us.
“Financially we need to raise money for the car, look in to all the visas, there are six or seven different visas, and organise our cultural research.”
More than just an adventure, Roisin said she did realise they were travelling through dangerous and inhospitable countries, and confessed most people couldn’t quite believe what they were doing.
“There is a bit of danger but it should be limited and be safe enough,” she said. “It might raise a few eyebrows.
“We hope to plan bits of the route but we will also have to be flexible.
“We will mostly be camping with a few hotel breaks.”
Another reason why the relaxed trio perhaps aren’t too worried is the good luck that will possibly by engendered by their team name, The Taillte Tank Girls.
Roisin explained: “Taillte is the Celtic goddess of competitive sports and she also oversees safe passage.”
The Taillte Tank Girls will be organising a series of fundraising events around the country. One of the first is a Clothes Swap event in Belfast, where you pay £3, bring two pieces of clothing and take away two pieces of clothing.
This will take place in the Warzone cafe on Little Victoria Street off Dublin Road on Saturday. For more information on supporting their fundraising efforts email taillte.tank.girls@gmail.com or telephone 07858304543.