CEAT 'Autorickshaw Challenge' rally flagged off

Chennai, Dec 31 (UNI) CEAT and Chennai Event Management Services today launched 'the Ceat Classic Autorickshaw Challenge 2007' rally, aiming at spreading awareness on child education in rural India and raising funds for the purpose.

Speaking on the occasion, CEAT zonal manager Ravi Shankar said the rally also emphasised that ''education is the right of every child.'' This unique and exciting sporting event, a 1,024 km race, spanning over eight days, would witness 65 participants (autorickshaw drivers) from nine countries.

Mr Shankar said high-on-the-plan was to offset the CO2 emissions by planting over 6,000 trees at a village in Tiruvannamalai district in the state in association with 'Trees for the Future', an NGO, specialised in seed distribution and agro-forestry training.

The rally would witness participation of teams from nine countries, he said, adding ''about 65 participants from India, UK, US, Hungary, Bosnia, Croatia, Ireland and Canada would compete in physical and intellectual tasks.'' The rally, flagged off from Chennai, would traverse through southern regions such as Puducherry, Thanjavur, Madurai, Rameswaram, Tuticorin and Courtallam, before concluding at Kanniyakumari on January 8.

He said in addition to the travails involved in navigating each stage of the rally and keeping their autorickshaws on the road, they would visit schools and distribute books and other study materials.

UNI