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On the run in a rickshaw, from Kathmandu to Puducherry

— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

A team taking part in the Rickshaw Run, which arrived in Puducherry recently.

PUDUCHERRY: Sixty two teams, 3,500 km and a cause. The fourth edition of the Rickshaw Run was flagged off at Kathmandu on June 1 with 150 participants from across 17 countries.

The first two teams reached Puducherry two days ago, after 11 days of travelling in autorickshaws across the border.

“The first Rickshaw Run was held in 2006 from Cochin to Darjeeling. The second was from Kolkata to Manali and the next from Cochin to Kathmandu. This year, the teams are travelling from Kathmandu to Puducherry,” Event Manager Lamorna Trahair told reporters on Friday.

Organised by Bristol-based The League of Adventurists International, the aim of the Run was to raise at least £100,000 for two international NGOs.

Each team has to raise a minimum of £1,000 to take part in the event.

“The funds will be given to U.K.-based Frank Water projects, working in Andhra Pradesh on clean drinking water projects, and Mercy Corps, working in the north of West Bengal and northeastern States,” Manager Niraj Lama said.

The teams, each comprising one to four members, travelled across different States, taking a route of their choice. In case of breakdown, the participants should solve the problem themselves or use local resources, Ms. Trahair said.

The participants are from Mexico, Thailand, Germany, India, Iran, U.K., Greece, Switzerland, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Norway, Spain and France.

The official finish point for the fourth edition was The Promenade Hotel. “We have approached the Puducherry Tourism department for launching the Winter Rickshaw Run from Puducherry on January 1. The Run will end at Shillong,” she added.

No other vehicle provided as much an opportunity to interact with local people as an autorickshaw did, Ms. Trahair said, explaining the reason for choosing an autorickshaw for the race.

According to Mr. Lama, the Run provided a diverse experience of India for the teams. “The next edition from Puducherry to Shillong will be the longest,” he adds.

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