When a world record attempt went horribly wrong, these friends held tight

Three friends from Sydney, Valerio De Simoni, Kris Ted Davant, and Jamie Kenyon, set out on a world record-breaking adventure in the years following their high school graduation. Their goal was to cross three continents on rugged quad bikes while raising money for Oxfam's fight against global poverty. The journey began in Istanbul, where they crossed the Bosphorus Bridge from Asia into Europe and then continued to Africa.

Each day presented new challenges, from cultural experiences to mechanical breakdowns on their slow, 70km-per-hour quads. De Simoni's growing pride in his dual Italian and Australian identity, as well as his bond with his father, who also died young, were key moments captured in his diary, which became the film's narration. When De Simoni tragically died during the trip, his friends Jamie and Kris turned their grief into a positive force, establishing the Valerio Daniel De Simoni Association to support refugees and First Nations youth.

The documentary, Sand Roads, directed by Lorenzo Conte and Gabriele Gianni, uses extensive camcorder footage and De Simoni's diary entries to tell their story, highlighting the enduring friendship and the beauty amidst the tragedy.