Ross Turner in his black cab
A Merton cab driver is raising money for the London Air Ambulance by driving 10,000 miles to Siberia.
Ross Turner, of Church Road in Colliers Wood, is taking part in the gruelling Mongol Rally; an annual event that involves driving across Europe and Asia to raise a minimum of £1,000 for the charity.
The 30-year-old was inspired by friends and family working in the NHS to donate what he raises to the air ambulance.
Mr Turner said: “They are the best of the best, those guys never complain and go into the hardest and toughest situations.”
The event will start in London on July 19 and finish in Ulan Ude in Siberia with the drivers permitted to take any route to complete the journey.
The event used to end in Mongolia’s capital but the organisers changed it this year for practicality reasons.
Mr Turner has been a black cab driver for three-and-a-half years and admits it was his sense of adventure that attracted him to the job.
The team car
He said: “It gives me freedom, I can work when I want and it is working out well now.”
The rules of the rally mean that the team will receive no roadside help or support should their car break down at any point in the eight to 10 weeks it will take to complete the journey.
Mr Turner, who previously spent 19 months travelling, is especially excited at the prospect of travelling through Mongolia, Iran and Tajikistan.
He said: “I’ve driven to Italy in a Smart Car for fun before, I managed to drive through eight countries in three weeks.
“I just love travelling and it is a passion of mine.”
To sponsor the team, visit the website.
