‘Hearty Boys’ take on Mongol Rally

A Devon man will be taking part in the Mongol Rally 2014 this summer, driving more than 10,000 miles with a friend in a donated car.

Building surveyors Matthew Wyon-Brown from Exmouth, and his friend Mark Wellbelove from West Sussex, will be raising money for the British Heart Foundation, Devon Freewheelers and Cool Earth charities.

The ‘Hearty Boys’ will be using a 1988 Suzuki SJ413 for the unsupported journey to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

Matthew, who works for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service at its Exeter headquarters, said: “We have both been spurred into undertaking such a gruelling challenge as a result of losing loved ones both unexpectedly and within a few months of each other.

“We both feel very strongly about making a difference to some of the charities that go out of their way to make a real difference to people in need.”

Last June, the pair raised £1,190 for the British Heart Foundation, riding from London to Brighton, and this year they will be taking on a greater challenge.

It is their aim to raise around £6,000 for their chosen charities as well as gain enough support to complete their arduous challenge.

The rules for the Mongol Rally are that the purchase price and engine size of the vehicle used are small and the route is undefined. The rally begins on 20 July in Battersea Park, London, and it is expected that more than 300 teams will start.

Countries the Hearty Boys are planning on travelling through are: France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia.

For more information visit: http://heartyboys2014.wordpress.com/