PCG contractor drives Land Rover aid convoy to Sarajevo

PCG member and Land Rover enthusiast Dave Haynes will be taking part in a rally stretching from Britain to Sarajevo, Bosnia - taking with him aid and sponsorship money donated by other PCG members.

Dave, and his navigator Keith Turner, will drive his Land Rover Discovery, complete with large PCG stickers on each side, a total of 3650 miles with 20 other Land Rovers.

David Haynes and Keith Turner: ready to head off to Sarajevo.

The convoy will start its journey in Kent and drive across Europe, through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, stopping at various checkpoints before finally arriving in Sarajevo, Bosnia at the British Army base. Here they will drop off aid supplies including £15,000 of wind-up radios and £70,000 of vegetable seeds, candles, torches and toiletries for the Red Cross's ongoing operations in the war-torn city. The pair will also be handing over the £700 in sponsorship money they have personally collected from PCG members, amongst others.

Dave, an RF contractor who works with mobile phones, has never been to the Balkans before and was unsure of what to expect. "I have done a little internet research already, though I'm not sure what we're going to see out there," he said. Asked what the attraction to the rally was to him he replied, "Off-road is a hobby of mine, I even give 4x4 lessons sometimes - I suppose it's just a good chance to really go and use the car."

Despite the last minute detour that must now be made around Banja Luka city in Bosnia where there is currently rioting, Dave and his navigator were confident that the route they would be taking would be completely safe.

The Mines Advisory Group charity which has part-organised the rally also clears mines and provides support to conflict victims in Cambodia, Vietnam, Angola and Nicaragua.

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Richard Powell, UKTECH