One Tiny Tuk-Tuk. Two Countries. One Big Mission. The Asha Drive & Pallium

ONE TINY TUK-TUK. ONE BIG MISSION.

A cross-continental campaign connecting two nations in support of children's palliative care.

The Asha Drive is a story in two chapters: first India, then the UK. One tiny tuk-tuk, two countries and one mission—to raise awareness for children’s palliative care and child welfare.

Chapter One: India

In February 2027, Emma Deterding and Priscilla “Cills” Giles will climb aboard Asha—a tiny Indian tuk-tuk—and drive more than 3,000 miles from Kerala to Srinagar, Kashmir.

Along the way they will visit and support remarkable charities working with seriously ill and vulnerable children, including Pallium India, CanKids KidsCan, Salaam Baalak Trust, KHUSHII and Shanti Bhavan. They will meet the people behind these organisations, listen to the families they support and share their stories as they travel.

The aim is not simply to drive across India, but to use the journey to shine a light on the enormous challenges facing children affected by serious illness and lack of access to healthcare and education—and the extraordinary organisations working to give them care, dignity, opportunity and hope.

Chapter Two: United Kingdom

Later in 2027, Asha will continue her journey through Britain, travelling from Felixstowe to Fife and visiting all 54 children’s hospices supported by Together for Short Lives.

Children’s hospices provide specialist nursing, respite care and vital emotional and practical support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families, yet they remain heavily reliant on charitable funding.

For Emma, this part of the journey is deeply personal. She has supported children’s hospice care for more than 35 years, becoming a Patron of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in 1996 and serving for nine years as a Trustee.

Asha means hope, and ultimately that is what connects both chapters of this journey: a belief that every child, regardless of illness, poverty or circumstance, deserves the best possible care, opportunity and support.

Our ambition is to create a wider Anglo-Indian conversation about children, care and hope, bringing together charities, communities, schools, businesses and individuals in both countries.

The entire expedition is personally funded, so 100% of public donations will go to the charities we support. 10% of all the funds donated in the UK will be sent to support those charities in India. All funds raised in India will remain in India.

The Asha Drive is more than a fundraising challenge. It is a travelling platform for stories that deserve to be heard. Find out more - https://theashadrive.com/

Hospice visits will be filmed, shining a light on the inspirational works the charities are doing, and the incredible people making it happen. A whole host of people will be interviewed along the road - it will be a cultural journey sharing insights into life in India and the UK. Help us put-put for palliative care, child welfare and hope and jump aboard with us on @theashadrive

One Tiny Tuk-Tuk. Two Countries. One Big Mission.