Team take on Euro challenge

A group of friends have challenged themselves to travel hundreds of miles across Europe in an old banger for charity.
A group of friends from Birchover have decorated a car like a spaceship for a charity ride in Monte Carlo next week, they are doing it in aid of Ashgate Hospice. l-r is Tom Brooks, James Montell, Edward Wain and John Smart.A group of friends from Birchover have decorated a car like a spaceship for a charity ride in Monte Carlo next week, they are doing it in aid of Ashgate Hospice. l-r is Tom Brooks, James Montell, Edward Wain and John Smart.
A group of friends from Birchover have decorated a car like a spaceship for a charity ride in Monte Carlo next week, they are doing it in aid of Ashgate Hospice. l-r is Tom Brooks, James Montell, Edward Wain and John Smart.

John Smart of Birchover, Edward Wain and James Mantell, of Stanton-in-the-Peak, and Tom Brooks, of Elton, are taking part in Monte Carlo Or Bust in aid of Ashgate Hospice.

The rally, which sets off from Belgium on June 4 and arrives in Monte Carlo three days later, challenges participants to buy a car for no more than £250 and decorate it.

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John, who works as a fitter, said: “We have bought an old Subaru Legacy – it’s not too bad, we have had to do a few bits and bobs to get it through the MOT.

“We have decorated it like a space ship.

“It’s a usable car, it just looks a bit daft.”

The 22–year–old said that while he wasn’t very good with cars his fellow traveller Tom happens to work at car firm Milner Off Road.

John explained: “The rally will set off from a town in Belgium, then we meet every night at a different destination and if you’re not there by a certain time you’re out of the race.

“We thought it would be fun to do,” he continued.

“But then we thought if we’re doing it, we might as well do it for charity, so we thought we might as well raise a bit of money for Ashgate Hospice.”

So far the team has raised more than £600 for the charity.

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They are not certain what they will do with the car when the rally is completed.

To support the charity, people can visit the Ashgate Hospice website www.ashgatehospice.org.

You can also call the fundraising direct line on 01246 567250.

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