Three University of Oregon graduates will be straying off the beaten path this summer – literally. Jackson Jarman-Miller, Gabe Howden and Cameron Huber are spending two months driving over 10,000 miles from London to Mongolia in the Mongol Rally, an epic adventure designed to raise money for several charities.
“It’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done,” Huber said.
The rules for the rally are simple: each team must complete the journey in a compact car with a 1.2L engine or smaller.

The entry cost for each team requires them to raise €1,000 for charity. Half of that amount is donated to the Mongol Rally’s charity of choice, Cool Earth. The rest goes to a charity of each team’s choosing. The Mama’s Boys, as Jarman-Miller, Howden and Huber have dubbed themselves, have elected to donate their proceeds to the Central Asia Institute, a charity focused on equipping girls in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan with an education.
“In the U.S., education is such a norm,” Huber said. “There, education isn’t a thing. Half the population not being educated seriously hinders society.”
The Central Asia Institute has had its share of controversy in recent years. Its founder, Greg Mortenson, came under fire after his book, Three Cups of Tea, was criticized for containing accounts that were found to be at least partially fabricated, which cast doubt on the nonfiction label. Mortenson has since stepped down as the director of the organization and CAI is “meeting all of the requirements outlined in the settlement,” according to Charity Watch.
Mama’s Boys are aware of CAI’s controversy, but still believe in the organization’s cause.
“A lot of students in that part of the world – in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan – don’t have the same privilege and accessible education that we do,” Howden said. “We thought it would be a great way to raise money for students, girls in particular, to help them educate their communities, families and friends.”
About a year ago, Jarman-Miller approached Howden and suggested they sign up for the rally. The timeline was too tight to make the journey last summer, so planning began for 2016.
Huber was approached later. He was originally going to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, but changed his plans when the Mama’s Boys approached him.
“I knew I wanted to do something crazy after I graduated,” Huber said. “This sounded way, way better [than the PCT].”
The planned route will take the trio through 20-21 different countries, requiring 6-7 different visas. Obtaining those visas has been the biggest challenge so far.
Russia in particular has been a challenge because, in order to obtain a visa, the government wants specifics such as when and where they will enter and exit the country and where they plan to stay each night, details that are hard to pin down for a team that only has an inkling of what to expect.
Adventure and danger aside, the team is excited about the fundraising opportunity at hand. Using three branches of fundraising, Mama’s Boys have raised approximately $3,000 for their trip. Howden estimates that besides the allotted sum for charity, each member has to raise that same amount individually.
Lining up a job after the summer has been nearly impossible for Howden and Huber, who have dedicated most of their time to either school or preparation for the rally. They believe the stories they will have after the race will make them more diverse candidates for any position they apply for — if they make it back.
Cameron is telling potential employers, “If I survive this, I’ll figure out what I’m doing afterwards.”