This is the website for Derek Holdrup and Rowan Jackson who are taking part in the Timbuktu Challenge 2009 leaving the UK on or around the 9th January 2009 and hopefully arriving in Bamako the capital of Mali, some 21 days later if all goes well. We are raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care as well as having a good time on the way. We were due to go in January 2008 but due to unforeseen circumstances the trip had to be postponed until January 2009.

The idea is to drive an old car to Bamako, the capital of Mali via France, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and Mali with excursions into the Sahara desert. When we get to Bamako, we donate the car to the local Rotary Club who sell it off for charitable purposes together with all the gear we have taken along. We then chill out, sleep, and fly home. Hopefully this will take us 21 days but there are such things as breakdowns, land mines, border officials, terrorist threats and so on.

Please note that all money raised from donations will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care - purchase of car, running expenses and living expenses will come out of our own pockets. No sponsorship money will be spent by us, it will all go to Marie Curie Cancer Care.