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Other diaries: Antarctica / Deserts / Microlighting / Mountaineering

Date: 

September - December 2002

Event: 

The World in Eighty Ways Project

Description: 

This was a 93-day 38,000 mile circumnavigation of the entire world, using over 80 challenging forms of transport. Transport methods included swimming 11 miles under the Red Sea, hot air ballooning over the Nevada Desert and setting the lap record for a blind driver at the Malaysian Grand Prix Circuit, racing a 200 kph Lotus. Jon Cook travelled as Team Manager and guide, along with retired Scottish PR executive Robin Dunseath, who devised and directed this unique global adventure, that raised half a million pounds for charities world-wide in the process.

Aim: 

Promoting the untapped potential of people with disabilities

Team members: 

Mike Mackenzie (double leg amputee, paralysed from the chest down) and Caroline Casey (registered blind)

Miles comments: 

My hero was Mike Mackenzie who, after surviving an attack on his life in Bosnia 10 years ago that killed his two friends, leaving him with no legs and a paralysing broken back amongst numerous injuries, undertook every form of transport with us. It was exhausting, but great fun! Highlights for me included pushing Mike in his wheelchair along the bottom of the Red Sea, and racing Caroline around the Malaysian Grand Prix Circuit, with Mike and Jon being our sighted navigators.

Lesson learned:

Life is too short to drink bad wine!