“The Gobi Gallop is the longest annual charity horseback ride on the planet,” explains Julie Veloo, who splits her time between B.C.’s Okanagan Valley and Mongolia.
Veloo is the founder and vice-president of the Veloo Foundation, a registered charity. Its main initiative is Children of the Peak, which consists of 12 programs which include, “sustainable educational, vocational and infrastructure development along with relief efforts to address immediate, serious need in the Songin Khairhan and surrounding districts where many of the community members survive simply on what they can scavenge from the garbage dump to eat, burn or sell.”
Veloo, who moved to Mongolia a decade ago, is currently riding a solo challenge across the Asian country to raise funds for Children of the Peak. She began her trek on October 8 with the daunting task of covering 700 kilometers on horseback ‒ alone (she does have a couple of companions for safety and company). Veloo is livestreaming on Facebook , and vlogging and posting on Instagram. Support and logistics are being provided by Horse Trek Mongolia, a local equestrian adventure tour company.
If you’re interesting in helping to raise money for the foundation, you can do so by donating directly online for Veloo’s current ride or by signing up to ride the 2021 Gobi Gallop next summer. Organized through the Veloo Foundation and Horse Trek, the Gobi Gallop is an annual long-distance ride for intermediate and advanced riders. Gobi Gallop 2021, the Wild Kherlen River Ride, leaves June 5, 2021 and will traverse 700 km over 10 days, making it the longest annual charity ride in the world. Individual riders pay a fee to take part and 50% of that fee goes to the Children of the Peak. Supporters can sponsor individual riders as well and 100% of all donations go to helping the children.
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