“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.