Students trek globe by ambulance

Three hundred teams traveling 10,000 miles across dangerous terrain and through politically unstable countries — this is the adventure of a lifetime.

Adventure’s Sum, comprised of NYU graduate students Jordan Ziegler and Yevgeniy Krasnitskiy and their friend Brian Sonberg, will drive from Hyde Park, London, to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as part of the 2009 Mongol Rally. The rally, which begins on July 18, 2009, will offer participants the chance to embark on a road trip through Europe while raising a minimum of $2,000 for the Christina Noble Charity Foundation Mongolia and Mercy Corp TAN project in Mongolia.

Each team can choose its own route and decide what countries it wants to travel through, as long as it ultimately gets to Ulaanbaatar. Adventure’s Sum plans to visit 18 countries over the course of their journey.

“We are choosing our route so that we can see some beautiful places and see some awesome countries,” Ziegler said.

The NYU students’ team is currently raising money to purchase their vehicle, preferably an ambulance they can donate to a hospital in Ulaanbaatar.

“Access to health care is difficult in the rural villages, and this would provide a way for patient transport to a hospital or clinic or would work as a mobile clinic that could travel around,” Ziegler said. “When we get there, we are going to visit some of the villages that are being supported by these charities. This way we can see first hand where the money we have raised is going and how it is being used and who it is supporting.”

Krasnitskiy is particularly excited to reach Ulaanbaatar because the city is the location of his father’s grave.

“He died when I was two years old, while working in Ulaanbaatar,” Krasnitskiy said. “I am hoping that visiting this land will give me some sense of connection to my ancestry.”

But for now, Adventure’s Sum is planning how to circumvent the setbacks it expects to face. The team members are currently applying for visas and hope that having proper paperwork will minimize any problems crossing borders. But because the paperwork to get a car in and out of Iran is extremely difficult, they plan to avoid the country outright.

Despite these potential difficulties, for the team members, the thrill of adventure and the hope of helping others trumps all feelings.

“This is a great journey, and certainly it is possible to do it without any organization or event linked to it,” Krasnitskiy said. “But being able to raise money for the charities that aid people in Mongolia makes this journey so much more worthwhile.”


Richa Naik is a staff writer. E-mail her at campus@nyunews.com.

Comments

2 comments

Paul

Tue Nov 25 2008 12:16

Wow! What an awesome trip and great charities also. Good luck guys! I think I might have to sign up for next year's event.

Hammand

Thu Nov 20 2008 08:39

You can visit their website at www.adventures-sum-mongolia.com.

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