The high road
Morgan Parker left a plum job in real estate to embark on a gruelling journey, all in the name of charity. Hannah Hodson finds out how he got on
The former real-estate executive has done what many of us only dream of: having become, in his own words, “guilty of an excessive lifestyle”, he put aside a stable and lucrative career to take an extended break. On March 1 last year, Parker set off from Hong Kong on a 800cc BMW motorbike on a journey that would test him physically and emotionally, take him through 10 countries and along 25,000 kilometres of roadway (some of it paved, some not), and, after 124 days, deliver him to his hometown of Brisbane, Australia.
Far from being an indulgent escapade, the journey was to be a carefully researched and highly planned mission to raise awareness on behalf of key charitable organisations in the countries through which Parker would pass. From 360 contenders, the core members of Wheel2Wheel filtered their focus down to 10 charities, all of which fulfilled the “dichotomy of a small group, led by an inspiring individual, tackling a big issue that resonates with everyone”, says Parker. He says they were alert to public criticism of the faceless and inefficient nature of some of the larger charitable organisations. It was also important to his team that they acted strategically rather than simply react to opportunities to give.
With the charities chosen, logistical preparations began in earnest.
For a start, how was Parker going to get from here to there? He didn’t want to be cut off from the experience in the bubble-like interior of a car, so he decided to travel by motorbike. There was a problem, though: despite having grown up with biker friends, he didn’t know how to ride. He began learning in 2007, earning a fine array of cuts and bruises along the way. Parker knew he would also have to beef up if he was to have any chance of controlling the 215kg motorcycle he chose for the journey.
It became clear after much discussion with the charities that the expedition should be televised, and the focus changed from fund-raising to awareness-raising. The support of the National Geographic Channel was vital. Siren Films, a Hong Kong-based production company, was eager to undertake the actual filming. Siren crews and Parker spent between three and five days on location with each charity, taking footage of the work being carried out and the areas in which they are based.