Wharfedale scouts explore country on a rickshaw (From Ilkley Gazette)
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Wharfedale scouts explore country on a rickshaw
9:19am Thursday 25th October 2012 in News
Otley Scout explorers Jamie Thomas, cycling, and Oliver Bumby, in the back, training ahead of this weekend’s 80-mile Scarborough to Otley fundraising challenge. Picture by Kevin Bumby
Two Wharfedale Scouts will set off on an 80-mile fundraising challenge this weekend ... in a rickshaw!
Fifteen-year-olds Oliver Bumby and Jamie Thomas are hoping to take two days to travel from Scarborough to Otley in their three-wheeled ‘bicycle taxi’.
The pair, members of Otley Parish Mad Cow Explorers Group, will begin the unconventional trip early on Saturday, and have an overnight break planned at a Scout camp in Easingwold.
Although they have been training hard in preparation, the boys are not underestimating the scale of the challenge, which they are undertaking to help fund an adventure trip to India next year.
Oliver said: “It could take us possibly 20 hours to complete.
“The rickshaw, although based on a bicycle, is a lot heavier, wider and more difficult to pedal, especially up hills.”
The rickshaw was donated by a local company, Imagefirst Ltd. The boys have now received lots of additional sponsorship from many local companies, whose logos are now plastered to its sides.
Oliver added: “We have been overwhelmed by the support and encouragement we have received from local businesses, and would like to say a big thank you to them all.”
Jamie said: “With having to raise £2,500 each for us to participate in the Himalayan Adventure, we had to come up with a different way of raising the funds.
“The rickshaw idea seemed ideal, especially as it would involve us doing something that is linked to India.”
The boys can be sponsored by texting RICK01, followed by a space and the sponsorship amount – £2, £3, £5 or £10 – to 70070.
