321 Cyclo: They're Off!

Ladies and gentlemen - Adam and Marty have left Hanoi.

Well...nearly. Right now they're probably battling their way through the suburbs but they're on their cyclo, and on their way.

I'd asked for volunteers from the KOTO trainees and staff to get up at the awful hour of 5am and wave them off. I cycled in at half past four and a handful were already there. By five they were all present - a very excited little group.

Of our heroes, Marty appeared first, riding the cyclo from its overnight storage spot at a nearby hotel. He was joined later by Adam who arrived on his motorbike with his fiance.

Both looked somewhat relieved to be getting the show on the road. They took delivery of their new Extreme Charity t-shirts (printed just in time at midnight last night). They said a few words of dodgy Vietnamese. The kids started the countdown and they were off.

There was a guard of honour of kids on bicycles to the first corner and then we all stopped together and watched them disappear into the still-dark morning.

And already I'm wondering how they're getting on.

And that would have been the end of the first update of the trip except that something else remarkable happened this morning.

Three hours later the KOTO kids were out in force again to wave another set of goodbyes and good lucks. Tiep and Phuong, both KOTO staff, embarked on a trip of their own. They are off to Australia on a KOTO goodwill mission. Chef Phuong and waiter Tiep (both pictured below with KOTO founder Jimmy Pham) will be enjoying work experience, a little bit of sightseeing, helping with fundraising and simply being ambassadors for this wonderful organisation.

For two former shoeshine boys, this trip will be genuinely life changing. This is what KOTO does. It changes lives, it widens horizons, it creates real life,heart-warming stories.

And this is what Marty and Adam see in us. This is why they are supporting us and this is why they are cycling all 1,700km to Saigon.

Today seems very emotional and very special. Two Australians guys cycle through Vietnam for KOTO. Two Vietnamese kids visit Australia because of KOTO. Their leaving together is coincidence but is also very very fitting.

Please, everyone out there, Marty and Adam are doing this to raise money for KOTO. If you can help then click here, scroll down, and make a donation that sponsors Intrepid will match dollar for dollar.

And keep checking back for progress reports.