This group of beautiful Malaysian children greeted the team as the vehicles rolled through their little village in the Cameron Highlands.

Almost every day we get asked the question, “Why are you doing this?”

The answer is to help those suffering with Parkinson’s Disease. But there is so much more... On a few instances along our journey, I have realized that our impact stretches much farther and much deeper than I imagined.

Today was one of those instances.

It is day 211 of the LONGITUDE Expedition, and the team is splitting into two groups. The first group, consisting of three of the vehicles, will be heading north in Malaysia to the Cameron Tea Plantations. The other car, filled with Todd, Chanda, and me, will be staying in Kuala Lumpur for one more evening to attend the Malaysian Parkinson’s Disease Association Charity Dinner Nite (sic) before rejoining the team early in the morning to head north into Thailand.

Attending this dinner gave me a clearer sense of the impact that we as individuals can make. By spending an evening hearing all the stories of suffering and hope, I came to a better realization of the efforts these people and their families make on a daily basis, just to maintain a “normal” life. I was amazed at how welcome we were at this dinner—strangers that had driven 20,000 miles for the same cause. On the road, it is easy to forget how are actions give hope to people.

As we left the dinner and began a 5-hour drive to meet up with the rest of the team, I realized how lucky each of us is to have good health. That even though we have challenges to face daily, it is nothing compared to what could be. It was by chance that we were in Kuala Lumpur the night of this fundraiser, but by choice that we began our difficult journey. In the end, even if we fall short of our fundraising goals, the grateful tears in the eyes of one old woman reminded me what this is all about—making a difference.

Until next time, I wish you all well from the far side of the world.

Logbook for May 29th, Day 211
Start: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Time: 10:00 a.m.
N: 03* 08.889
E: 101* 42.410
Finish Tanah Rata, Malaysia
Time: 4:30 a.m.
N: 04* 27.368
E: 101* 22.029
Mileage: 149
Notes: Team split into two today, with three cars traveling to the Cameron Highlands and one staying in Kuala Lumpur. The Highlands group arrived in the tea plantation hills and visited a local village while doing a recon for tomorrow’s filming. That evening, they visited a local bizarre and had a delicious curry dinner. The vehicle that stayed in Kuala attended a fundraising banquet for Parkinson’s Malaysia and met with Doctors Chee and Chien and a member of Malaysia’s parliament. They didn’t arrive in the Highlands until early the next morning.
(N.O.)

Help support our cause: The LONGITUDE Expedition is the longest journey ever attempted with a focus on Parkinson's Disease. The Drive Around the World team aims to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research by driving four certified pre-owned Land Rover Discoverys around the globe following lines of longitude. Readers are encouraged to pledge small amounts of money per expedition-kilometer via a pledge form that can be found on our Parkinson’s page by clicking here. 100% of donations received go directly to Parkinson's research and all who donate $10 or more will be entered into a raffle to win an expedition-equipped Land Rover Discovery.