Thirty-five UK women entrepreneurs, led by Emma Sayle, are driving a 1,000km Chennai-to-Goa rickshaw rally to raise funds for education, women’s health and empowerment projects in India.
A unique cross-country road rally organised by UK women entrepreneurs is set to roll out on March 3 from Chennai and head to Goa. The 1,000-kilometre journey has a dual goal. It is both a cultural adventure and a high-impact fundraising campaign.
Participants will steer auto rickshaws across Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, covering highways, towns and rural stretches. The purpose is to raise funds for education, health and women’s empowerment projects in India.
The rally is titled the Let’s Goa 2026 Rickshaw Rally. It marks the second year of this international collaboration. Thirty-five women entrepreneurs from the United Kingdom will take part, led by the founder of the Sisterhood Group, Emma Sayle.
Rally Mission: Impact Over 1,000 Kilometres
The rally has a strong charity focus. Organisers plan to use funds to build safe, weather-proof classrooms in government schools in Tamil Nadu. The funds will also support vaccination drives, vocational training for women and menstrual and maternal health awareness.
Siddharth Shankar, Chairman of the host organisation Madras Midtown Round Table 42, said participants first study project needs before donating. “It’s both research-based planning and experiential learning,” he told reporters. “Seeing facilities on the ground changes how donors understand needs.”
Shankar added that past rallies led to over 75 new classrooms that impacted more than 3,000 students, along with science and computer labs. “Better facilities reduce dropouts,” he said.
Social Media Voices: Entrepreneurs Speak
Participants are already building momentum on social media. One rally fundraiser wrote on Instagram:
“For the Let’s Goa rally I’m fundraising a pound per kilometre as we drive 1,200 kilometres across India.”
Another post from a participant shared pride and purpose, saying:
“I’ll be joining fifty phenomenal women on the Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally … to build safe classrooms for children in Chennai and support women’s empowerment.”
A LinkedIn post by entrepreneur Jude Jennison laid out the cause in personal terms. She said the ride will raise funds for: building safe schools, skills training, and maternal health care. She added,
“Girls in India deserve those same opportunities … this feels like a meaningful way to support that belief.”
Another social media shout-out summed up the mission succinctly:
“We’re jumping into rickshaws, covering 1,000km, and making some serious noise – not just to be heard, but to make a difference.”
Partnership and Purpose
The rally is jointly hosted by Madras Midtown Round Table 42 (MMRT42) and Madras Midtown Ladies Circle 7 (MMLC7). Both groups are long-time charity organisations in Chennai focused on education and women’s wellbeing.
Emma Sayle, the rally’s UK leader, said the mission blends adventure with deeper insight. “It’s about building networks and plans, and ultimately, about empowering women and children,” she said.
Funds raised abroad are pooled through established partnerships with NGOs. Decisions on how to deploy these are made jointly after needs assessments.
Long-Term Goals Linked to Women’s Health
While classrooms and skills training are core areas, organisers also highlighted health priorities. Future initiatives under consideration include postnatal nutrition programmes and awareness around HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer.
The goal is not short-term fixes. “We don’t look at small projects; it’s always a long-term goal,” Siddharth Shankar said.
Rally Route and Timeline
The rally will begin on March 3 near West Tambaram in Chennai. It will move through multiple cities before finishing in Goa on International Women’s Day, March 8.
Organisers hope the timing around International Women’s Day will amplify awareness of gender equity and social change at grassroots levels.
Looking Ahead
This year’s edition is smaller than last year’s rally, which featured 70 women and raised over ₹1 crore in donations. But organisers say quality and impact are key.
Nanditha Vikram, Chairperson of Ladies Circle 7, said the partnership shows what strong-willed people can achieve when they unite behind a cause. “This shows meaningful change becomes possible when like-minded women come together,” she said.
Clear Cut Gender, Education, Health Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: Feb 23, 2026 01:00 IST
Written By: Ayushman Meena
