12:15pm Sunday 10th February 2008
By Eleanor Stride
AN ADVENTUROUS pair of brothers have returned from a charity challenge of a lifetime which saw them drive 5,000 miles through some of the world's most dangerous countries.
Ian and Russell Baker took part in the Plymouth to Banjul Challenge which involved buying a car for as little money as possible and then driving it thousands of miles across rough terrain towards Gambia in West Africa. Once there, the car was sold to raise money for charity.
The brothers, who work for their family business, Baker's of Oakley, set off on their challenge just before Christmas and spent three weeks driving their Nissan Sentra, bought for £240, through countries including France and Morocco and Senegal, before arriving in Banjul in Gambia.
After weeks of driving and fixing the Nissan as it made its way to the finish line, the brothers managed to sell it for £1,100 at the auction in Banjul.
Russell, a 27-year-old mechanic, said: "We had a few worrying moments during the trip, such as when the car overheated in the desert, but we managed to get the car going again.
"Finding petrol proved a big problem.
"We also had a few issues with border guards trying to get money out of our pockets, but nothing was really scary as we were in a big group of between eight and 11 cars.
"I've done a bit of backpacking before but it doesn't compare to this.
"Three weeks of intense driving was tough, but we met some great like-minded people and saw some amazing sights."
Russell said the trip had also strengthened his relationship with Ian, 30.
He said: "We used to argue when we were younger, as a lot of siblings do, but we got on well during the trip. There were a few short words late at night, when we'd been driving around not knowing where we were going, but it was great fun."
Through sponsorship and donations the brothers raised just over £2,000 for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance by taking part in the trip.
Russell said: "We're very pleased with the amount we raised, but we're still hoping to get a little bit more so that we reach our £2,166 target, which is what it costs to run the ambulance for a day.
"It was such an experience and something we'll talk about for the rest of our lives.
"We are already looking into what challenge we might do next."
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