The Leader
Gemma Quinn
“I would not have missed it for the world, it was amazing.” The words of a changed man, Brain Hampshire, following his participation in the Maroc Challenge Raid 2012.
It was last month when the Leader spoke with Brain and his team mate and friend Rob Hull, ahead of their 2,000km journey in their Nissan Patrol, registered pre-1996 as per the competition rules, across the deserts and mountains of the Alawite Kingdom, starting in Javea and ending at Essaouira beach in Morocco. Incorporating sporting and humanitarian spirit the raid is a unique experience for everyone taking part but also aims to improve the quality of life in rural areas of Morocco.
Brian and Rob, the ‘La Marina Raiders’ spent weeks fundraising and collecting donations to hand out to the children in the local communities they drove through and their efforts and the generosity of everyone in La Marina who helped make it possible left a lasting impression on the lads, “I honestly had a different opinion of these people, they are the most loving, caring, appreciative people I have ever come across. We were giving toys and gifts to the little ones and they parents were so grateful and would offer us tea and they wanted to give us something even though they had nothing to give.” Speaking following their return home late Easter Sunday.
Brian continued, “It was a humbling experience I regularly had tears in my eyes and lumps in my throat. One day we broke down and a man from the village saw us and came down to see what was happening, he returned with a mechanic who fixed the problem and he would not take anything in return.”
Home for now just a week, the memories and feelings are still strong and Rob is already planning to continue his participation with the Maroc Challenge and is already speaking with organisers about how he can become further involved in the charity. It is early days but he intends to take his wife Sharon on a short visit to the region later in the year so she too can witness some of the communities and experience it for herself, “I will keep collecting and donating and we’re looking at maybe getting a vehicle ourselves so we can drive over with donations.”
For Rob, the experience was equally humbling and he logged their adventure daily on their ‘La Marina Raiders’ Facebook site.
Day 2 – arrive Melilla – long off road course through mountains in rain/sludge, we are unable to complete last leg of stage due to swollen river. Road section through Guercif and Outat-Oulad-El-Haj arrived Missour but couldn’t make it all the way to camp because of another uncrossable river following very bad weather causing flash floods so we spend the night on the floor of a hotel dining room on return to Missour.
Day 3 – passed through the Gorge of Ziz and Er-Rachida – turned off for off-road stage (old Paris-Dakar stage) just before Erfoud – long, fast (up to 80km/hour)stage over high plateau arriving at the edge of the Erg Chebbi at Merzouga. We arrived at Merzouga in the dark in a sandstorm and had to dig ourselves out when we got stuck in sand.
Day 4 – Merzouga-Merzouga short desert off road section through dunes and deserted villages – handed aid out to school at Adrouine.
Day 5 – Through Erfoud – 2 long off road stages – one way point was the location for Hamunaptra in the film ‘The Mummy’ and we passed through Boumaine Dades and El-Kelaa-M’Gouna arriving late at Ouarzazate.
Day 6 – 2 long off road sections passing through remote mountain villages passing Tazenakht, Agadir-n-Iznaguen, Toroudent arriving Agadir on the coast.
Day 7 – Left Agadir along the coast road – off road section along the coast and got caught in a camel-jam on the way and saw goats grazing up in the trees! Arrived at rally finish at Sidi-Kaouki beach – left beach and started back along coast towards Tangiers with over night stop at Safi.
Day 8 – We handed last of the aid/donations just outside of Oualidia on the coast then broke down at Ouled Ghanem- managed to get repaired and passed El-Jadida, Casablanca, Rabat, Kenitra (driving on mud tracks in the dark with no headlights, brake lights or indicators and having to hold main beam on to see!) over night at Larache.
Day 9 – Short drive to Tangier and we caught the ferry to Tarifa – drove last leg of journey up coast past Gibraltata and home – total distance covered approx 3500 km’s – actual not known as odometer stopped working half way round!
Brian concluded, “May we take this opportunity to thank each and everyone for their sponsorship donations and time, your gifts made what we did possible to see the smiles and hear the laughter from both children and parents made the trip very special. The people where wonderful, the children where special and their countries beautiful. Not only was the journey in kilometers or miles but within both of us thank you all once again.”
If anyone would like any more information on the La Marina Raiders and their efforts, check out their Facebook page or email Brian at hampshire8
.
