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2 Weeks, 3 Wheels, 83 Rickshaws and 1 Adventure of a lifetime

August 25, 2015 04:33 PM

Punjab News Express
KOCHI: The brave, heroic and slightly unhinged August 2015 Rickshaw Run teams have now all finished in Kochi in one way or another. A total of 80 teams completed the mammoth 4500 km journey from Shillong. The 3 vehicles that didn't quite manage to cross the finish line under their own steam are now headed here on the backs of trucks.

The tales from the road came in thick and fast: The fear induced by Indian bus drivers, black cows sleeping on unlit roads at night, blown pistons, rickshaws rolling over, breaking down, temple visits, teams getting drenched in the monsoon rains, potholes "the size of Kolkata", village visits, broken legs, broken arms, bad stomachs, rough sleeping, no sleeping...you name it - they experienced it.

The overwhelming feeling from the teams though was the generosity and helpfulness of the Indian people. It really is something they will keep with them forever: "We spent one night in a very poor village, and the locals treated us with such true kindness, and made us feel like members of the family. So much so that when we left the next day we were all in tears."

Matthew Dickens, Event Manager for the Rickshaw Run which is run by UK company 'The League of Adventurists International Ltd'had this to say: " This was a truly great edition of the event, we had a fantastic bunch of people, they have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities across the world, and a lifetime of memories have been created. I would like to thank the people of Shillong and Kochi for their hospitality, plus of course the people of the nation as a whole - without which this event would simply not be the same. Thank you one and all."

The Rickshaw Run August 2015 edition has come to a glorious close. The next edition of the event launches from Kochi on New Year's Day, and will finish 14 days later in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

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