Charity Misc

Behold the Autorickshaw

Posted by Joe Eaton on Jun. 28, 2007, at 1:20 pm

With the charity marathon long since passé, what's a socially conscious D.C. adventure girl to do? Well, in late August, Rajshree Solanki and Jen Cook plan to battle heat, monsoon rains, and insane traffic on a 1,200-mile race across Southern India in a three-wheeled autorickshaw.

Call it Baja 1000 meets Race for the Cure. The Mumbai Xpress Rally is a 13-day race from Chennai to Mumbai that benefits Indian villages. Solanki, a 31-year-old sometime Elvis impersonator who works at the National Museum of the American Indian, says participation was Cook's idea.

"She woke me up from a dead sleep and asked me if I wanted to do it. I said sure, thinking she was not serious. Now here we are."

An autorickshaw is a three-wheeled vehicle often used as a taxi in India and other countries. Cook, who works at a scooter shop in Connecticut, knows how to drive one. "She just doesn't know how to go into reverse," Solanki says.

Team RickshawGrrl is collecting funds to sponsor an Indian village with books, medical supplies and clothes. Solanki and Cook are hosing a fundraiser at Franklin's in Hyattsville on July 17. To donate a portion of your bill, mention the Indian Relief Fund.

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Comments

1. Raj June 28th, 2007
   1:59 pm
   #1

   Hi Folks,
   Just wanted to let people know that I will also be in the Takoma Park 4th of July Parade. Be sure to look out for Rickshaw Raj!

2. Robin June 29th, 2007
   8:01 am
   #2

   You go girls! Lots of water and sunscreen. It'll all be good!

   Robin

3. vertginous July 1st, 2007
   9:38 am
   #3

   Well, they may be a little nuts but is in *such* appealing way. But folks, t-shirts are coming soon, hop over to http://www.vertigo-books.com to check out the design. The RichhawGrrlz are working out the details, but they should be available in time for the Franklin's fundraiser.

4. Raj July 2nd, 2007
   6:06 pm
   #4

   I would like to dispute the fact I was drunk when I agreed to go on the race. Well, okay, I can't seem to remember that fact. I do remember her waking me up.

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Blogs Linking to this Article

1. Linked From: July 1st, 2007
   9:24 am
   Vertigo Books :: RickshawGrrlz Fundraiser 7/17 :: June :: 2007

   [...] Hold Tuesday, July 17 for a fundraiser at Franklin’s. Jen of Vertigo fame is going to race autorickshaws across India in the Indian Auto Rickshaw Challenge, the endurance race for the clinically insane.  Jen plied her good friend Raj with alcohol and Raj signed up for the adventure as well. They are the RickshawGrrlz. And as a team they will be assigned a village to bring medical and educational supplies to. There is no official non-profit; Jen and Raj will purchase supplies in India so that they don’t have to spend the money on shipping stuff there. All the money will go directly to purchasing supplies. More in the City Paper. [...]