What Is The Rickshaw Run?

In January, 2015, we will make a valiant effort to complete the Rickshaw Run. We will fly from the USA to the city of Kochi in the South of India. From Kochi, we will embark on a 1600 mile drive up India’s west coast in a 3-wheeled motorized rickshaw running at a whopping 7 horsepower. What this means is that we’ll be driving roughly the distance between Miami and Boston in a small, beat-up, glorified lawnmower at a blistering 25mph.

On the way to the finish line in Jaisalmer, in the northwest of the country, we will pass through the beautiful beaches of Goa, the chaos of Mumbai, and many other areas of India that we have no idea about quite yet. This rally is fully unguided and unsupported. We create the route, and we will get lost. We aren't mechanically inclined, but we will break down. Repeatedly. But it is all for a good cause and a sense of adventure.

Of course, along the way we will face many challenges; experience numerous cultures, flora and fauna; and likely curse the idea of participating in such a grueling adventure. We will be journaling, photographing, and checking in along the way, and we hope that you, our friends and family, will follow us on our journey.

Who Is Team Marco Yolo?

In order to combine the spirits of exploration and throwing caution to the wind, we are (perhaps regrettably) Team Marco Yolo. We are three dudes who live in New York City, who by the time of the rally will have each just turned 30, and who spend a lot of time cooking up harebrained ideas over platters of oysters. This time, we’re following through with one such idea.

Mike

Mike Abdul is a recent transplant to New York City from Chicago. He is an intellectual property attorney and stand up comic. Mike used his legal expertise to draft the silly napkin contract that got this whole journey started. During the Rickshaw Run, he hopes to find at least $20 on the ground and shake hands with “Tunak Tunak” singer Daler Mehndi.

Brett

Brett Harmon is a New York City transplant by way of Chicago. He will have been 30 for just two weeks at the start of this adventure. Professionally, he is a real estate agent in Brooklyn, though he spends the vast majority of his time accruing and hoarding airline miles, driving across the country, riding his bicycle to the beach, and consuming raw and undercooked seafood.

Brendan

Brendan Sund very recently moved to New York City from the arid wastelands of Los Angeles. One night after a few drinks and a plate of oysters at the local bar, he signed a legally binding napkin contract and now has no choice but to go to India. He is not thrilled.

The Charity: Cool Earth

Cool Earth is the charity that works alongside indigenous villages to halt rainforest destruction.

We know that saving the rainforest isn’t a new idea. Managing to do it is.

Over the last 40 years, half the world’s rainforests have been destroyed. That’s why Cool Earth decided to go about things differently.

Cool Earth doesn't create reserves or put up fences. They don’t buy land. Instead, they put indigenous people back in control of the world’s most endangered rainforest.

These people have lived in the forest for countless generations. Their homes are now on the  frontline of deforestation. They have the most to lose from deforestation.

By building better incomes, better schools and better clinics, Cool Earth gives their partner villages the resources they need to keep their forest intact.

Cool Earth is now working alongside 65 rainforest villages throughout the world.

These partner villages are protecting over 350,000 acres of forest that lie directly in the path of chainsaws and bulldozers.

The clever part is that this forest is forming a shield to make the neighbouring forest inaccessible  to loggers – saving millions of acres of further forest.

At least 90% of each donation to Cool Earth goes directly to their projects. With this support, Cool Earth can put in place the simple steps that change the fate of at-risk rainforest and the lives of their indigenous partners.