Introducing Peking to Paris 2011

On May 21st 2011 we set out on an 8,000 mile, 8 week trip in an attempt to raise £5,000 for Smile Train, the world's leading cleft lip and cleft palate charity.

Carmen in Myrtle, and Kip in Kotka

We are driving two Austin Sevens from Peking to Paris, through 7 countries and 1,400 miles of Gobi Desert.

We will be completely unsupported; totally dependent on the support of strangers, and the reliability of Myrtle, our little 1930 Austin Chummy, and Kotka, a rather sporty 1928 Austin Ulster.

Our journey includes a total of 1,400 miles of the Gobi. Thence to Barnaul in Russia, then Chelyabinsk, down to Stalingrad (now Volgograd), into Ukraine, to the Crimea then Kiev, Cracow, Auschwitz, Colditz Castle, and Paris...8,000 miles and 8 weeks later. Along the way we hope to visit several Smile Train centres to see first hand the wonderful work this charity does.

Smile Train helps doctors in third world countries to carry out cleft palate operations on children who are often otherwise abandoned as being deformed. The operation takes as little as 40 minutes, and costs about £150. Please help us raise money for this excellent cause.


You can donate through our JustGiving page

Or send us a cheque payable to Smile Train

Post to Kip Waistell, c/o 1 Fairfield Green, Fownhope, Herefordshire, HR1 4NL 

Free with donations of £25 +

Anyone donating £25 or more will receive a free DVD of Smile Pinki, the 2008 Academy Award winning documentary about a little girl whose life was transformed by Smile Train surgery. read more about Smile Pinki

Please help us spread the word by passing our details onto everyone you know! Help us make a real difference in the lives of children.

In a few months time, when we are back on home soil, we will be visiting various schools and organisations to talk about our trip. Please contact us if you'd like to arrange a visit. All proceeds will go to Smile Train.