48 hours to hitchhike from city to Amsterdam for charity

Published on 03/11/2012 12:00

Don’t be surprised if you spy a lot of people trying to thumb a lift out of the Capital next weekend, as 40 students take on a charity challenge with a difference.

The Race2Amsterdam will see 20 teams of two from Edinburgh University attempt to make it all the way to the 
Netherlands – without spending any money.

Starting from Bristo Square in Edinburgh, participants have just 48 hours to make it to the centre of Amsterdam using only their charm, while raising much-needed funds for the charity of their choice.

Rachel Thompson, 21, who is one of the race organisers and previously competed in a hitchhike to Paris challenge, told the Evening News: “These events are a great way to raise money, and we’re hoping to get about £5000 in all.

“We’re very safety-conscious – everyone has to check in at regular intervals or we inform the police of their last location. Participants also send us the registration of every 
vehicle they enter. I had a brilliant time when I did my hitchhike – I ended up getting a lift with the Territorial Army at one point.”

Biological sciences student, Andrew Peel, and his flatmate, Simon Hall, both 21, will be donating their sponsorship money to the Sick Kids hospital. Simon, a physics student, told the Evening News: “I’ve always wanted to travel and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that and help people at the same time.”

Andrew added: “The Sick Kids is only five minutes away from where we live, so it was the obvious choice for us to help out.”

Their friends, Dan Brawley and Nathan Hammersley, who are both 19, will be racing them in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Dan, a chemical engineering student, said: “I already donate to the charity, but I wanted to do more as my family has had some issues with cancer. It also sounds like it will be a really interesting experience.”

However, the boys are not giving anything away about their plans for the race – as they don’t want to give their competition any advantage.

For information on how to sponsor the teams e-mail [e-mail].

Related Articles

• Edinburgh Fringe special: August's hottest shows

  Take 16 arts writers and a record-breaking 2,088 shows. Arts editor ANDREW EATON explains how our Top 60 list came about