MEMBERS of Westbury Rotary Club have launched a fundraising campaign so they can drive 3,699 miles to The Gambia to deliver two ambulances to a local hospital.
The trip is being organised by James Foster, 58, of Imber Road, Bratton, who is chairman of the international committee at the Westbury branch, responsible for international charities and disasters abroad.
The club is planning fundraising activities to finance the 16-man challenge in 2010.
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Mr Foster said: "This idea was born of my son Mark. He took part in the Plymouth to Banjul challenge where you buy a car for £100 and you have £15 to do it up. Then at the end of the trip you auction off the car for charity.
"When my son took part in the challenge he gave away his first aid kit to a local hospital in Banjul, which only had one pair of surgical scissors per 500 beds.
"My idea was to get a reliable form of transport to go there, which we could then give to the main hospital in Banjul. The vehicles we are planning to buy are Pinzgauers. They are ex-military vehicles that will go anywhere and do anything.
"They are more reliable than a Land Rover. If you want to buy a new one it would cost £130, 000 each.
"The trip will be done in four legs Westbury to Paris, Paris to Madrid, Madrid to Rabat and Rabat to The Gambia."
Mr Foster, who joined the Rotary almost two years ago, explained how the money for the vehicles would be raised.
He said: "We will raise the money through charity fundraising events, donations and sponsorship.
"We already have £1,000 that we have earmarked so that's a good start.
"It's going to be a lot of fun and we will be raising lots of money for a good cause.
"The Rotary Club of Banjul will look after the vehicles and maintain them."
The Rotary Club has more than one million members worldwide and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations and supports various charities.
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