While most of us will be guzzling Easter eggs over the holiday weekend two intrepid young guys from Fermanagh will be embarking on a 4000 mile charity adventure which will end in one of the poorest countries in Europe…

Gareth Wallace, 29, from Church Hill and James Johnson, 29, from Kiladeas are part of a team of 15 people who will set off from London in six banged up cars, to drive to Moldova via the Artic Circle.  They are hoping to raise 1 million leu (the equivalent of £50,000) for two charities – Children of the Edge and Moldovan Ministries - which work with disadvantaged children in Moldova.  According to Gareth: “It’s all about helping young people who might be at risk of child trafficking in a very forgotten part of the world.”

Labelled the Snow Dodgers, the team will set out on Saturday in cars which include a Saab 900, Volvo and 3 wheel Reliant Robin, none of which cost more than £200.  Gareth says it all adds up to a being a challenging experience: “The 3 wheel Reliant Robin could be especially interesting in the snow - we’re wondering if we should attach a ski to the front of it!  It could be as cold as minus 15 degrees but we will just have to look out for each other.”

The group began its adventuring around three years ago when they took part in a 4000 mile rally across Africa and the Sahara.  They had such a blast that they wanted to repeat the adventure, but in freezing temperatures this time - and so the Sand dodgers became the Snow dodgers.  They have even managed to claim a Guinness world record as they sought to raise awareness of this latest trip, squeezing 14 people, including an innocent bystander into a Reliant van.

During their 3 week journey this time they hope to check out the Northern Lights, visit the Kremlin at Moscow’s Red Square as well as meet Santa in Lapland.  For Gareth “sitting on Santa’s knee and eating a Big Mac from some of the world’s most northern McDonalds” are the anticipated highlights of the trip.  The rally will then come to an end in Moldova, where the group will visit some of the projects which the money they have raised will be benefiting.

So what inspires the group to take part in such a crazy challenge: “It’s probably some serious character flaw!” says Gareth “But I guess I just wanted to do something unusual and not become comfortable in life, to learn more about the world, other people and myself.”

To sponsor the team go to www.snowdodgers.co.uk.