Duo put pedal to the metal in ‘Winter Tour’ challenge
A husband and wife team from Nottinghamshire are taking on the challenge of driving their vintage 1930 Austin Seven ‘Chummy’, 230 miles from Belgium to Luxembourg in one day.
We are great supporters of Leonard Cheshire, and its founder, and felt that this provided the perfect opportunity to help raise awareness of the wonderful work the charity does to help disabled people live, learn and work as independently as they choose.
Sophie Bainbridge and her co-driver Gary are making the trip in order to raise money for leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire.
In honour of the charity’s founder, RAF Pilot Leonard Cheshire, the duo will be beginning their journey at RAF Scampton on Wednesday 6 November before boarding a ferry to Zeebrugge, Belgium. That’s where the real challenge begins as they drive through the Ardennes’ hilly terrain in their compact car towards North Luxembourg.
While the one-day target may seem ambitious enough, what makes the journey more challenging is the fact that ‘Chummy’ has no roof, doors, windscreen or boot, with the warmest weather conditions expected to hit just eight degrees on a good day. The couple will also be matching the age of the car by donning 1930s vintage and reproduction clothing instead of modern, waterproof clothing.
‘The journey won’t be a comfortable one to say the least,’ explained Sophie.
‘The car gets to about 40mph before it begins to shake and vibrate, meaning I will be presented with a constant challenge to keep "Chummy" steady and on course.
‘Gary is also over 6-foot-tall, so the regular stops to tighten the car’s nuts and bolts and to refill the oil will provide a welcome break!
‘What started out as a fun idea for a holiday quickly morphed into an eccentric fundraising idea.
‘We are great supporters of Leonard Cheshire, and its founder, and felt that this provided the perfect opportunity to help raise awareness of the wonderful work the charity does to help disabled people live, learn and work as independently as they choose.’
Keeping with their tribute to the founder’s legacy, the pair will also be stopping off at the Menin Gate in Belgium on Remembrance Sunday before journeying back to RAF Scampton on Wednesday 13 November.
Find out more information about Sophie and Gary’s ‘Winter Tour’ visit.
Media enquiries
For further information and high res images please contact Erin O’Reilly via erin.o’reilly@leonardcheshire.org.
Notes to editors
The Winter Tour is sponsored by Stanley Biggs Clothiers.
Anyone who would like to donate to the ‘Winter Tour’ challenge can go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thewintertour2019
