USA-This summer American and European families will leave their homes, pack up the kids and head out for summer vacation. Meanwhile, other families have been forced out of their homes by wars, genocide, and the recent Tsunami. This February, Western Road Trips, company that rents classic Volkswagen Westfalia Campers for self guided tours of Western National Parks, hopes to benefit both of these groups. They will donate $ 100 from each reservation taken in February to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). “We want to help those people displaced by the ongoing tragedy in the Sudan and the recent Tsunami but we need the help of our customers. They are going on vacation anyway and we figured we could pass some of the money they give us on to other families that are in desperate need.” Said Pete Van Slooten, co-owner of Western Road Trips.
The proceeds of this fundraiser will be given to the United Nations Refugee Agency, which provides aid to families around the world displaced by war or natural disaster. They are currently focussing relief efforts on areas affected by the recent Tsunami and the Chad/ Darfur region of Sudan where war and upheaval has left nearly two million people displaced from their homes and in need of assistance. For each $ 100 donation, The UNHCR is able to provide a survival kit, which includes necessities such as blankets, and a cooking & heating stove, into the hands of a refugee family and with $ 500 the UNHCR can drill two wells bringing much needed drinking water to many families. “We are not putting a cap on the amount of the donation.” Assured Van Slooten. “We want to help as many families as possible. The success of this really hinges on travelers booking their trip in February which is usually one of our busiest booking times”
Western Road Trips (http://www.westernroadtrips.com) began two years ago when Pete Van Slooten and Nathan Williams, rock climbing partners and former college roommates, recognized the need for a more efficient way to travel to the many national parks and climbing areas in Utah and the surrounding states. They decided that the VW Westfalia was the perfect solution. “People had few choices. Rent a car and get a hotel each night, rent a big cumbersome motorhome, or lug their camping gear across the country with them and pitch a tent every night.” With two beds that accommodate up to four people, a sink, stove, fridge, closet, good gas mileage, and a nice mix of style and nostalgia they knew the VW “westy” was a good alternative. Since they opened their doors in 2003, they have rented vans to clients of a wide variety of professions and from across the globe that mainly traveled to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and even down the Oregon Coast.
Western Road Trips requires a $ 250 deposit to reserve a van. The $ 100 donation will be made from this deposit and thus will not cost travelers any more to take part in this relief effort; they simply have to make their reservation in the month of February. Cancellations usually result in a $ 50 handling charge and a $ 200 refund. For February reservations, the handling charge will be $ 100 to cover the donation. If you are interested, visit http://www.westernroadtrips.com and reserve a van in February for travel anytime in 2005. For more information on the United Nations Refugee Agency, visit http://www.unhcr.org
Press Contact:
Pete Van Slooten
801-953-6068
pete@westernroadtrips.com
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