About Mercy Corps
Registered Charity No. SC030289 · www.mercycorps.org.uk
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Powered by the belief that a better world is possible, Mercy Corps partners to put bold solutions into action, helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Why we chose Mercy Corps
The Saharan Rally 2009 was our second charity rally. Having supported Mercy Corps on the Mongol Rally 2007, we chose to continue that partnership for our first proper trip into the Sahara.
In 2009, Mercy Corps was working in more than 35 countries responding to conflict, displacement and poverty. Their teams were supporting communities recovering from the Gaza conflict earlier that year, the L'Aquila earthquake in Italy, and long-running programmes in Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and across the Sahel.
The rally
We set off in Red, our 1964 Land Rover, in the summer of 2009, driving south through France and Italy before taking the ferry across to Tunisia. From there we crossed into Algeria and dropped deep into the Sahara — through Gasstoil, Hassi Bel Geubhour, the Tassili N'Ajjer plateau, Djanet and down to Tamanrasset — before tracing our way back north via In Salah, Ghardaia and Tunisia, with a final loop through Slovenia on the way home. Thanks to 34 generous supporters, we raised £1,210, surpassing our £1,000 target by 21%.
Thank you
To everyone who donated and supported the Saharan Rally 2009: thank you. Every penny went directly to Mercy Corps and their humanitarian work.
You can see our fundraising page at JustGiving. To learn more about Mercy Corps and the work they do, visit www.mercycorps.org.uk.