Teams of veterans are taking part in a fundraising banger rally, driving ‘clapped-out’ cars from Dover to Gibraltar, in support of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
The Banger Rally challenges teams of two to four people, one of which must be a veteran, to buy a car for less than £1,000 and work together to jazz it up. They will then use their mechanical skills (and a bit of determination!) to hopefully travel 1,500-miles across Europe.
Organiser of the event, John McGowan, says:
“I served myself for 13 years in the Royal Navy and I understand how important military charities are to the veteran community.
“This will be the third veteran banger rally I have organised and each time we decide on a different military charity to support. Blind Veterans UK was chosen by the competitors from last year’s rally.
“I live near the charity’s Centre of Wellbeing in Llandudno, so the charity is one which I am very aware of.”
Each team pays an entry fee to take part with a percentage being donated to Blind Veterans UK. The teams can then pick a charity of their choice to raise money for; many have chosen to take part on behalf of Blind Veterans UK.
John says:
“We have raised an incredible £112,000 from the past two events combined for the chosen charities and we hope to raise an amazing amount to help this charity support even more blind veterans.
“This is a great way to make money for a fantastic charity but it’s also an excuse for veterans to get together, enjoy themselves and recapture some of that camaraderie from their days in service. A party atmosphere is almost guaranteed.”
There are now over 30 teams signed up to the event which takes place between 25 September and 1 October. If you would like to find out more about taking part in the event, please visit veteransbangerrally.co.uk
If you are part of a group that would like to find out how your special interest or hobby could be used to raise money for Blind Veterans UK please email fundraising@blindveterans.org.uk
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/support
