Fans of the TV programme Race Across the World are being encouraged to try out the travel format for themselves by taking part in a new charity challenge.
The Jersey Employment Trust (JET) is organising the challenge, the JET Jaunt, to raise much-needed funds to support Islanders who have a disability or long-term health condition in the workplace. In the TV programme, teams of two race from A to B, using only public transport, by land or sea.
For the first JET Jaunt, sponsored by CSC, the race is from St Malo to Monaco, on 27-29 September. There will be various checkpoints and diversions along the way, before participants race to the finish line.
JET fundraising manager Caroline Spencer said: “I’m a big fan of Race Across the World. I love seeing how people plan their routes, how they trouble-shoot when things don’t go to plan, and how they interact with people along the way. The great thing about this challenge is that it’s more accessible than treks and cycle rides. So long as you can catch public transport, you can take part.
“We are grateful to sponsors CSC, Ports of Jersey, All Island Media, and ByBranca for their support. We hope this will be an annual event as there is no end of variations on where we might send our Jaunters in future.”
The charity is working with travel experts Lupine Travel who have test-run this format, with a London to Istanbul challenge in 2023. JET trustee Dave Chalk and his son Viktor took part and finished joint 11th out of 100.
Mr Chalk said: “As someone who has always planned holidays down to the last minute it’s incredibly challenging to turn up in Paris at 5.30 pm not knowing which country you’ll be sleeping in that night. We ended up in Luxembourg. The aim was to get from London to Istanbul in seven days using only public transport and with unknown checkpoints on the way. Belgrade was the toughest to get to.
“There was a real mix of people. Viktor was the youngest at 11 but the oldest ran into the 70s. We have signed up to 2024’s race, this time to Albania.”
