Wheel2Wheel: Vietnam and Animals Asia

On 1 March 2011 Morgan Parker and Simon Lock set off from Hong Kong on a 20,000 km, 100 day, 10 country enduro adventure, Wheel2Wheel. Wheel2Wheel's purpose is to raise money and awareness for charitiable organisations across Asia and Australia. Wheel2Wheel also aims to inspire others to step out of their comfort zone and do more to help others. The 10 country motorbike journey will take them from Hong Kong to Brisbane. After passing through China, Wheel2Wheel will traverse Vietnam putting the spotlight on animal cruelty and the illegal poaching of moon bears for bile extraction in support of Animals Asia.

After crossing the China-Vietnam border, Morgan and Simon will tackle a dangerous 200km ride along the picturesque northern Vietnamese coastline to the beautiful Halong Bay. Here theWheel2Wheel Team will witness at close range thousands of amazing limestone pinnacles protruding from the waters at Vietnam’s most famous World Heritage site.

Cruising down a highway for 150km, the Wheel2Wheel team heads to the charming and historical city of Hanoi. As Wheel2Wheel continues their journey west, the Team will cross the lower ranges of the Tonkinese Alps down into beautiful valleys of classic Vietnamese rice fields.

The wild forests of Vietnam once provided the most nurturing habitats for both the Malayan sun bear and the Asiatic black bear (or moon bear). However, illegal poaching of bears has caused the numbers of both species to decline dramatically. Asiatic black bears and sun bears are now facing total decimation in the wild as a result of the establishment of hundreds of illegal facilities, which keep bears for the extraction of bile.

Founded by Jill Robinson, Animals Asia team have been investigating bear farming in Vietnam since 1999. Today there are 3,410 farmed bears in Vietnam with another 602 captive bears used for display purposes. Animals Asia is in need of help to raise funds for the Moon Bear Rescue Centre in Tam Dao National Park. They are now in the middle of building Phase Two which comprising dens, semi-natural enclosures, and rehabilitation areas for severely disabled bears. They also employ a veterinary team on site, bear managers and local workers - a team of people who will be there to care for the bears for their lifespan of 25 years or more. To stay tuned on all the wonderful things Animals Asia are doing, join their Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/AnimalsAsia

About Wheel2Wheel:

Wheel2Wheel is an independent non-profit organisation created by Morgan Parker to raise awareness and provide financial assistance to brilliant yet under-recognised charitable organisations throughout Australasia. Through its innovative approach of visiting these grass-roots organisations during motorbike enduro-adventures, Wheel2Wheel can experience first-hand the deeds and needs of the people on the ground. By harnessing the support of mass media, Wheel2Wheel aims to provide the public with objective insight to the key social, environmental, and humanitarian issues facing the region.

Wheel2Wheel is 100% self funded. All donations through our "Live the Dream" options are channeled back to the 10 charitable organisations.

Find Wheel2Wheel on:
www.youtube.com/wheel2wheelchannel
www.facebook.com/wheel2wheel
www.twitter.com/wheel2wheelteam
http://www.bmwunstoppable.com/unstoppable/wheel2wheel.htm