Rickshaw rookies raise charity funds

Driving two rickshaws down India’s west coast, five regional men are taking on the annual Rickshaw Run to fundraise for charity.

Ongerup’s Beau Vaux joins Matt and Luke O’Neill, Ashley Pickernell and Cameron Tuffley in a rally from Jaisalmer to Cochin.

Self-named The Rusty Coights, they kicked off their journey on Tuesday with nothing more than a two -week allowance to get from point A to point B with no route given.

Now on the third day of their drive, Mr Vaux said the inexperienced team were given a quick lesson on rickshaw operation and some handyman tips.

“Break downs are supposed to happen all the time and they gave us the stats of how many broken bones and crashes happen,” he said.

“We have had a lot of people tell us that we are crazy,

“I don’t think we will go through too may capital cities, I think we will take the rural routes off the busy roads.”

With no major breakdowns yet, the mighty rickshaw has a seven horsepower engine and a top speed of 55km an hour downhill.

Covering their own fuel, food and accommodation, the rally is all for a good cause and they have three charities to distribute their funds to. With almost $6000 raised, compulsory charity Cool Earth, a girls’ school in Rajasthan, RCITTA, and Regional Men’s Health will receive the raised funds.

Each donation of $100 or more comes with the opportunity to grant the brave men a challenge to do en route.

Challenges, updates and footage of the journey will be posted to their Facebook page, Rusty Coights Rickshaw Run.

They are fundraising through their GoFundMe page — www.gofundme.com/rusty-coights-rickshaw-run — and can receive donations until January 15.