ASBIS Europe BV has provided support to one of the teams taking part in the Amsterdam Dakar Challenge Barrel Race 2007. The challenge is to drive an old car (‘barrel’) that costs less than €500 from Amsterdam to Dakar on a limited budget with the principle aim of helping charitable causes in Western Africa.

Asbis Europe BV has chosen to support a team of two brave young ladies from the Netherlands, Bonny Carton (26) and Rachel van de Berg (26), who left off from Amsterdam in their old 4x4 Nissan Patrol on Saturday, 24 February 2007, hoping to overcome 6560 km of rugged terrain.

The rules of this annual charity race require that all participants buy a car and supplies for a budget of no more than Euro 500. However, to raise more money and have a safe journey to the end there is a need for sponsors to help the teams endure the long desert route and finally reach the destination point in Gambia, where the participants are to put the car up for auction and transfer the raised money to charities in Gambia to build schools, hospitals and nursing homes.

The racing team supported by ASBIS Europe BV has decided to donate the raised cash to the Foundation for Children Support in Gambia which runs the projects to set up Daycare Center and Maternity Clinic in the town of Berending. 

Local women with children badly need hygienic and clean facilities, as well as a wider network of centers where they would be able to get medical aid without having to walk long distances. After-care is also very important in order to uphold, improve and maintain health of the people who really need it. Also, good education and proper training of the local people is important, since it will help to expand medical staff.

Due to this urgent need for assistance, the Amsterdam Dakar Challenge Barrel Race is arranged every year by a Dutch organization. In 2006 this project raised Euro 350,000 to help Africa create a better environment.

ASBIS Europe felt the need to give the Amsterdam-Dakar Challenge participants a chance to make this noble effort and enable them to raise as much as possible to help rebuild a ‘New Africa’.

We wish Bonny and Rachel good luck and we trust they will make it to the finish. We would like to have more organizations to support this charity, so please feel free to make any donations to improve health facilities in Africa.

For more information on this project and news from the race please visit: www.gevaaropdeweggoesdakar.com (English and Dutch).