The cars that make it to Banjul are auctioned off and the funds raised are then distributed using the Association of small-scale enterprises in tourism (ASSET) and the Gambian National Olympic Committee (GNOC).
ASSET operates in the tourism industry. But it is as far away from the activities of the big tour companies as can be imagined. ASSET was set up to help thousands of Gambians to scoop up more of the crumbs from the tourism table and, as one member said, to 'give a voice to the voiceless'. So it lobbies government to do more for the juice pressers, the fruit sellers, the tourist taxi drivers, the official tourist guides and people with many similar jobs, all of whom struggle to gain access to the tourists who are managed by the tour operators and the bigger ground operating companies.
GNOC is about making things work for the country's sports people.There is huge interest and participation in sport. Those of you who have not been to a country like The Gambia will be staggered by the huge numbers of 'football pitches' - patches of bare sand - at least one in every village. Football boots, footballs are in very short supply and to see a goal with a net is almost unknown. The GNOC struggles hard to offer a variety of sporting activities and to build stadia around the country.
The National Stadium, where the car will be auctioned, is an impressive building but it is the only one of its kind in the country. The GNOC is building more facilities as and where it can.
Many people are helping us to collect.
A special big thank you to John and Sally Barnes (and her Mum) and Cardinal Heenan School in Leeds who have collected over 100 pairs already. (we only met them briefly on holiday !)
Also a big thanks to North Road School in Iron Acton whose pupils are writing messages for us to deliver to a school in Banjul together with a selection of Cuddly toys and small gifts