Liverpool couple travelling the world in an ambulance aim to make new world record after buying it on eBay.
Back in October last year, Rachel Nixon and Lawrence Dodi left from the Albert Dock in their Land Rover Defender along with springer spaniel Peggy Sue to start the first leg of their journey. With the aim of breaking the Guinness World Record for the 'Longest Journey in an Ambulance', the aim is to drive over 100,000 kilometres, through 66 countries, across five continents for the next two years.
Along the journey, they hope to raise funds for two charities that are close to their hearts and who rely on public donations. These are Antony Nolan, which does research into blood cancer, blood disorders and bone marrow and Vetlife which provides support to the veterinary community.
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Now, 12 months on from when their trip started, and 20,000km and 2 countries later, Lawrence has spoken to the ECHO to speak of what has so far been an "incredible" experience. Having so far raised hundreds for charity, the veterinary surgeon said: "We didn't plan on buying an ambulance, we planned to travel like most do and was looking for a suitable vehicle.
"One day Rachel called me and said she found an ambulance on eBay and we fell in love with it. It was ideal, already built for you to live in to a certain extent so we made checks with DVLA to make it road legal and we were still left with a vehicle that looked like an ambulance."
After being inspired following an article about a group travelling in a fire track, the couple contacted the Guinness World Record to see if they could set a new distance in an ambulance. After much deliberation, they set off in October last year and have had an incredible time.
Lawrence told the ECHO: "You don't have enough time, when you're trying to see so many places you realise how short time is. We have done 24 countries now and there's a lot of driving involved. We feel very privileged to be in a position to be able to afford to do this and have such an adventure.
"For us, the travelling is brilliant but the difference here is the people we have met. Particularly driving an ambulance, it draws a lot of attention, people always wanting to know what we are doing but we've been invited in by so many families and everyone has been so generous, making sure we are fed and watered and looked after.
"The more you go East, the more you realise just how generous people are and those misconceptions don't stay. One time we were driving the north coast of Turkey and some girls were holding up a sign that read follow us. We didn't think they meant us but they managed to track us down and said they saw the English number plate and wanted to say hi.
"They wanted to take us for coffee and a tour of the town and we ended up staying with their family, we are still in touch with them now. We have had such unique experiences and made so many friends."
The initial plan was for the trip to be a "true global circumnavigation", and to continue from Armenia into Azerbaijan, central Asia and ultimately Russia, before shipping the ambulance to North America. Unfortunately, due to ongoing border closures following covid, and the current Ukrainian conflict, the route has had to change.
Lawrence, a veterinary surgeon, told the ECHO : “We are super thrilled to set the minimum distance asked by Guinness. It is strange to think a crazy plan so many years ago in the face of all the changes affecting world travel has reached one of its objectives. 20,000km seemed such a big distance 12 months ago, looking at a picture of the globe it amazes us just how far there is still to go.”
Instead, the couple plan to return to the UK in January 2023 with a view to shipping the ambulance to Canada, the starting point of the Pan American highway. Lawrence added: "We are hoping by the time we return to the UK we will have done around 30,000km and once shipped to Canada, that tour will bring us to as close to 100,000km as possible."
The fundraiser can be found by clicking here. Regular updates on the journey can also be found here.
Lawrence added: "The fundraising side is going good. We are aware of the cost of living in the UK but we are raising money for charity, even if it's just exposure for the charity.
"Peggy is living her best life as well, she's loving it and meeting new people, she's in her element. Certain countries, their attitudes to dogs differ to the UK, some don't see dogs as pets as such."
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