COUNCIL BLUFFS — Some people will do anything to raise money for a good cause, if it also offers an opportunity to have an adventure.
A mostly local team is preparing to cross India nearly from the top of the country to the bottom by rickshaw to raise money to improve that country's clean water supply. The team calls itself the CATinhats: Crazy American Tourists in Hats.
Kim Haner of Council Bluffs, who climbed Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro in 2008 to raise money to fight prostate cancer; his wife, Mary; and a Council Bluffs friend will join Jonathan Rust of England, who Kim Haner met during his Kilimanjaro climb, in India after Christmas and travel more than 2,000 miles as part of the Rickshaw Run.
The event is held four times a year and raises money for FRANK Water Projects, which works with an Indian organization to build and support community clean water projects.
The four teammates will rent two rickshaws for the trek from Jaisalmer in India's northwestern region to Kochi near its southern tip.
These rickshaws are not quite as primitive as the one-seat carts pulled by a horse or person. They are three-wheel utility vehicles powered by small gasoline engines like those on a walk-behind lawnmower, said Kim Haner, who owns and operates Kim's Service & Repair. Driving them requires standard motorcycle and international driver's licenses.
Their roadworthiness, however, is limited, he said.
"They do say these rickshaws are made for about half the trip, so you will rebuild your rickshaw on the way," he said.
The team will have to cross some rough terrain on poorly maintained dirt roads, Kim Haner said. "There are places where we'll probably be pushing it," he said.
So how did they get involved in the project?
"My nephew — the one who first was involved in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro — told me 'I have our next adventure,' and he immediately backed out," he said. "We started planning this Rickshaw Run, and Mary said 'I told you if you go out of the country again, I'm going along.' "
The team members have to find their own route, Kim Haner said. That gives them the freedom to go sightseeing on the trek.
"But we have 14 days to complete it," Mary Haner said.
The team plans to use a GPS unit to find its way, she said.
Because there may not be lodging in less-populated areas, the team might have to camp some nights, Kim Haner said.
Fundraising has gone well, he said. So far the team has raised more than $1,700.
"We're going to try to go to about $3,200," he said. "All the money we raise goes to the water. We pay all of our own expenses."
To donate in the local team's name, visit http://justgiving.com/Kim-Haner or http://rickshawrun12w.theadventurists.com/catinhats.
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