Main fundraiser photo

High Altitude Truck Expedition

Two trucks, two veterans, one world record attempt: Chris is about to embark on an expedition in Chile to set a new world altitude record.



"Together with expedition leader Matthias Jeschke, and fellow wounded serviceman Australian Paul Warren, we will attempt to reach the highest point on Earth for wheeled vehicles." This will be on Chile‘s Ojos del Salado mountain. 

Chris and Paul are military veterans who have faced serious obstacles in life and have successfully overcome them. They are now tackling this new challenge with the same energy and determination. Unforgiving terrain and tough climate conditions await them on their way to surpassing a high point of at least 6,690 m. A bold adventure which will take both man and machine to their limits.

“The expedition is much more than a once in a lifetime opportunity for myself and Paul, it is a huge opportunity to raise awareness of the veteran community and the support and assistance that some require, but to also extend this to the families also as they are just as deserving as the veteran in need.”

About Chris Bailey



Chris Bailey, 35, was a soldier in the Royal Air Force Regiment until 2007 before he was wounded in action. Doctors assured Chris that he would never be able to walk again or have any children. By miracle, his first son came into the world a few years later and shortly after Chris managed to start walking again without the aid of crutches. Today, the father of three helps the Royal British Legion and Walking With The Wounded veterans' organisation and is actively engaged in helping former soldiers. He also manages the Herefordshire Veterans’ Support Group in a voluntary capacity, which looks after the well being of armed forces veterans in the county.

 

"For me, the expedition is the highpoint in my 14-year battle to return to a position where I can be as independent as I will ever be. It's a great opportunity for veterans to have their voice heard. There are many members and their families who need support in our community of veterans. That's why I'm taking part in the expedition."

"We want to show a capability and ambition which will make most of our colleagues stand out. As you would expect, we are asking for wholehearted support and financial assistance for organisations which provide for veterans' needs and give them a voice in society."

The Mission
 


Two Rheinmetall MAN HX trucks are aiming to break a maximum altitude record for vehicles by climbing to an altitude of 6,690 or more metres. The objective is to reach the crater edge on the Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world at 6,890 m, located on the border between Chile and Argentina in South America.  After a year's planning, Matthias Jeschke and his 14-man team from five different countries are fully prepared for the journey from both a technical and physical perspective. Besides unpredictable weather conditions, the greatest challenge will be temperature fluctuations and the thin mountain air. The team set off from Copiapó in Chile on 6 November.



The trucks are loaded with two mountain refuges, which they will transport to heights of 6,150 m and 6,500 m, where the refuges will then be erected for mountain climbers. These refuges will also be considered the highest construction project ever, setting a new world record for construction at altitude.


Fundraising

Going for a world record on Rheinmetall MAN’s High Altitude Truck Expedition is more than just a once in a lifetime opportunity for Chris to get the veterans’ voices heard. His chosen charities to support and raise awareness of in the UK are Walking With The Wounded and The Royal British Legion.
 

“For me, WWTW is an amazing charity with the right ethos and approach and I am honoured to be raising awareness and sponsorship for such an incredible charity. I have had the pleasure of working closely with one of their home straight employment advisors and was overwhelmed by their knowledge and approach to the situations and complexities faced and how they would always go that extra mile for the individual.”

The Royal British Legion is the oldest military charity in the UK providing a fast and efficient service for the veterans and their families. “Similar to WWTW the Legion is extremely varied in the services that it can provide, ranging from supporting with getting food on the table up to getting a complete bathroom or kitchen transformed for independent living. The Legion also runs the festival of remembrance every year, and spends a considerable amount of time raising awareness and fundraising with the poppy appeal. It is thanks to the legion that I am a member of this expedition and I thank them whole heartedly.”

“To this end I would hope that you would take the time to look at the links and donate any amount possible so that we can help get faster more critical services established so we can continue to save, transform, and re-educate veterans and their families lives.”


Charities:

The Royal British Legion

Walking With The Wounded

 
Expedition Updates:

Follow the expedition online:
www.rheinmetall.com/truckexpedition  
or on Twitter and Instagram with hashtag
#trucksummit
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • £25 
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer and beneficiary

Chris Martin Bailey
Organizer
Christopher Bailey
Beneficiary

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