17 vehicles purchased at no more than £750 each will be setting off on an epic adventure this spring, to raise money for local Hospice Care charity Phyllis Tuckwell.
The Ewshot 750 Banger Challenge invites drivers to buy a car for £750 or less, and join a 750-mile ride through England and Wales. Participants are encouraged to decorate their cars in outrageous styles, bringing a festival atmosphere to this wild road trip. The route shuns motorways in favour of scenic routes, country lanes, Welsh mountain passes, and a grand finale at the legendary Farmer’s Dog, Jeremy Clarkson’s pub.
“Some of our drivers have selected well-built, older vehicles with a reputation for reliability, while others seem to have deliberately chosen the quirkiest, most underdog machines they can find!” said event organiser, Brendan Cox. “It’s a celebration of motoring mischief, camaraderie, and the undying spirit of adventure on four wheels – all for an important local cause.”
Drivers will set off from Ewshot bright and early on 16th April, following a route which will take them west through the Cotswolds and on to Aberystwyth, where they’ll stay overnight. On the second day they’ll travel through Snowdonia, past Liverpool and on to Morecambe Bay. The next morning, they'll head up to Beckfoot and Little Langdale, then down through Malham to Harrogate, and on through Doncaster, Nottingham and Melton Mowbray. The final day of the challenge will take them south through Leicester, past Stratford-upon-Avon and Burford, and back to Ewshot.
“We chose to support Phyllis Tuckwell in recognition of the vital services it delivers to our local community,” said Brendan. “Many of us have had family members or friends who have benefited from the exceptional care they provide. Personally, the mother of my two eldest children and both my parents-in-law spent their final days in the Hospice, and our entire family will be forever grateful for the compassion and support shown to us during such a challenging time.”
“A huge thank you to Brendan, all the organisers, and everyone who will be taking part in this fantastic fundraiser,” said Sam West, community fundraiser at Phyllis Tuckwell. “We’re really looking forward to hearing the stories afterwards - and seeing the photos! It sounds like great fun, and we’re so grateful to them for choosing to support Phyllis Tuckwell.”
All of the money raised by this event will go directly towards funding the specialist hospice care that Phyllis Tuckwell provides for local patients and families living with an advanced or terminal illness. Every day, it supports over 250 patients, relatives and carers, but as the NHS/Government only covers around 25% of its costs, it has to raise over £25,000 every day to do this.
All our services are free, but this is only possible due to the generosity of our amazing community. The Government/NHS only provide 25% of our costs, so we need to raise over £25,000 every day to provide our vital services.
Please donate what you can to help keep hospice care available to all those in our community who need us.
