Operation Smile International

Since 2003, RacingThePlanet has raised and donated more than US$750,000 to support Operation Smile medical missions in ChinaVietnam and Egypt, among other countries. Operation Smile heals children's smiles by providing safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

Esquel – Y.L. Yang Education Foundation

 

Since 2005, RacingThePlanet has donated US$40,000 to support Uyghur schools with books, computers and sports equipment in Xinjiang Province, China.

ADDITIONAL CHARITIES

Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care

RacingThePlanet has donated funds to support the Hike for Hospice, an annual fundraising activity for the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care.

Room to Read

RacingThePlanet has raised US$160,000 to support Room to Read, an organization promoting literacy and gender equality in education.

Oxfam

RacingThePlanet raised more than US$45,000 to support victims of the earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, in 2008.  The earthquake killed more than 68,000 people and occurred just days before the Gobi March 2008.

CUHK Brain Tumour Centre Combined Neuro-Oncology Clinic

RacingThePlanet donated money to support the Otto Lien Da Wong Visiting Professorship in neuro-oncology at the CUHK Brain Tumour Centre.  Australian Otto Wong was a competitor in the inaugural Gobi March 2003. He passed away suddenly from a brain tumor while at his home in Hong Kong at the young age of 38.

Habitat for Humanity

RacingThePlanet raised more than US$15,000 for Habitat for Humanity to support victims of the 8.8 massive earthquake in Chile in 2010 which happened just one week before the Atacama Crossing2010.

Dawul Remote Community School

At the request of the principal of the Dawul Remote Community School, an aboriginal school in the Kimberley. RacingThePlanet donated running shoes and scarves to the school in 2010 and 2011.  RacingThePlanet’s medical team spent a day at the school teaching the kids about medical career options and dancing.

Bright Start Montessori School

At the request of locals in Namibia, RacingThePlanet donated US$2,000 to fund new computers for the Bright Start Montessori School.

Child Welfare Scheme

RacingThePlanet donated US$5,000 to support disadvantaged children in Nepal through the Child Welfare Scheme.

Royal Flying Doctor Service

RacingThePlanet donated US$5,000 in 2010 to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service, an organization that provides medical support in the Outback of Australia.

Ocean Voyages Institute (Project Kaisei)

RacingThePlanet donated US$5,000 in 2010 to support a clean-up of the ocean through the Ocean Voyages Institute.

Red Cross (Earthquake in Japan)

RacingThePlanet donated money to support earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. The earthquake and resulting tsunami took place during the Atacama Crossing 2011.

Outward Bound

RacingThePlanet donated to support Outward Bound Hong Kong, a global leader in outdoor experiential education.

 

Note: This information above does not include the millions of US dollars raised by RacingThePlanet competitors for charities around the world.