Two bold banger teams have returned from the ultimate adventure, having participated in the ‘Home 2 Rome’ car rally, to raise money for Southampton Hospital Charity’s PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) Fund. Proudly sponsored by Carte Blanche Greetings, Mark Hilder and five of his colleagues joined over 49 competitors in the five-day, 1,800 mile challenge to drive across France and Italy, in cars with a value of no more than £150.
The challenge saw a battle between boys and girls, with the Violent Veg team and the Vivacious Veg team fighting for the finish. Battling dehydration, foreign drivers and daily challenges to cross the finish line, the final results saw the girls finish 20th with the boys in 7th place! Violent Veg team member Mark holds a strong personal connection to the cause, as his son Milo spent a great deal of time in the care of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, before he sadly passed away just before his 1st birthday.
Speaking about the challenge, Mark highlights the difference in navigation choices for the teams, with the boys choosing to use traditional maps, whilst the girls followed their Sat Nav. Mark said, “I think we can safely say that the end results showed that technology is not all it’s cracked up to be!”
However, cooped up in their C-reg BMW, the boys had run into serious problems by day three, with a leaking radiator threatening to put an end to their fundraising feat. At 12pm team Violent Veg were waving to a Lamborgini at the tollbooth in Monaco, and just 2 minutes later they could be found stuck by the side of the road hoping to be rescued from their desperate situation, and struggling to keep up with the local lingo. Following a long wait in the heat and several mechanics later, happily the boys found and fitted themselves a replacement radiator at a cost of 40 Euros- the exact amount they had in their pockets! - to see them on their way to overtake the girls for the final leg of the trip.
Day five brought 47 degree heat, as the teams raced to Rome, for a picture perfect finish at the Coliseum.
Reflecting on the journey, Mark Hilder said, “It was an unusual trip - not very glamorous cooped up in an old car for 5 days, in sweltering heat, with two other guys. Being without air-con, with small windows letting in very little breeze, tired and hungry, concentrating hard on driving or daily challenges, and never enough water (all went in the radiator on day 3!) – it is perhaps not everyone's idea for a fun way to raise money. But we were determined to do well and enjoy the whole experience, and raise as much money as possible for the PICU fund - which you can only do on reflection with such a quick trip. There were many times when I thought of why we were doing this and how important it is to me, which is why we did not give in trying to get our car fixed on the outskirts of Milan.”
The teams have so far raised a total of £7,828.25 through sponsorship, but following their grueling challenge they are still looking for support to reach their goal of raising £25,000 for PICU, as a thank you for the fantastic support PICU provided to Mark and his family, and to help future patients and their families.
Suzie Pearce, Fundraising Officer at Southampton Hospital Charity, said “It is great to see the guys and girls from Carte Blanche so passionate about fundraising for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit here at Southampton General Hospital. We would really like to say a huge thank you and congratulations to the teams for their fantastic efforts in the Home 2 Rome banger rally.”
Please visit
www.justgiving.com/home2romepicu| to make a donation, or call Southampton Hospital Charity on 023 8079 8881.
Posted on Saturday 1 August 2009