Couple risks €100 Fiat in 6,233-km Sahara rally for Gambian charity
A 25-year-old digital marketer from Planegg is preparing for a gruelling 6,233-kilometre charity rally across the Sahara. Marina Lässiger and her boyfriend, Tobias Krakau, will join the 20th Dresden-Dakar-Banjul Challenge, driving a €100 Fiat packed with supplies for Gambia. The couple has never visited Africa but is eager for adventure—and to make a difference.
Lässiger and Krakau bought their seven-seater Fiat Ulysse on eBay for just €100. The car, now loaded with aid, will face extreme conditions: desert heat, off-road stretches, and daily drives of up to 800 kilometres. They expect to drink six litres of water daily and endure long border waits before reaching Gambia.
The rally begins in Dresden, with 120 participants in 60 vehicles. The first five days cross Europe, followed by Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal. Once in Banjul, the couple will distribute supplies and take part in the auction of all 60 German cars.
Funding the trip will cost €3,000 to €4,000, plus donations. Their crowdfunding campaign, Gambia—Adventure for a Good Cause, is live at www.goodcrowd.org. All proceeds from the auction and donated goods will support local projects through the Dresden-Banjul Organisation.
The journey will test both the couple and their €100 car. After weeks of desert driving, they will arrive in Gambia to deliver aid and auction their vehicle. The funds raised will directly benefit community projects in Banjul.
