Local customers Paul Robinson and Antonio Monteiro have formed Team ‘Not Fast, Just Furious’ and are driving an old VW Beetle in a charity event - ‘Fleeing to Florence’ - to raise money for local charity The Martha Trust.
Challenged to find a vehicle for no more than £200, with an MOT, Mr Robinson sourced an old Volkswagen Beetle. He then found himself trying to make it roadworthy in time for the long drive for the charity event.
Our Parts Manager at JCB Volkswagen Ashford has helped to get his vintage VW Beetle back to roadworthiness by providing greatly reduced cost parts. Other local companies have also helped him out.
Mr Robinson was grateful for the help and brought his Beetle in to show us before setting off on Saturday for Italy.
In his own words:
"Myself and my work colleague Antonio are taking part in 'Fleeing to Florence' Challenge in aid of Martha Trust, a small Charity with a big heart. They provide care and respite for people with Profound Disabilities both physical and psychological. The challenge is to purchase a vehicle for no more than £200 with MOT! We then have to drive to Florence Italy; around about 900 miles; over 3 days. Once we arrive in Florence the plan is to scrap the cars and then fly home. Myself and Antonio have decided to drive the car back and sell it. With the proceeds going to the charity.
We have pledged to raise £1,500 for the Charity and any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Any contributions are of help; this is a small charity that would really benefit from all donations great or small."
If you would like to help, please visit Mr Robinson's fundraising page:
The fundraising link: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PaulRobinson100
The charity website: http://www.marthatrust.org.uk
You can follow his journey on Facebook.
We wish him the best of luck! Sounds like great fun :)