Councillor Andy Brown, representing Gotham on Rushcliffe Borough Council, is preparing to embark on a mystery bus journey across the United Kingdom to raise vital funds for a charity supporting people with sight loss. The challenge, set for Saturday, August 1, will test how far the politician can travel within 24 hours using only public transport, starting at 6am and continuing until the final bus of the day departs.
Challenge Details and Fundraising Goal
Brown will use his older person's free bus pass to travel as far as possible across the country. Local supporters can contribute through fixed donations or by sponsoring him with a set fee for every mile he covers. The funds raised will go to the Mayor of Rushcliffe’s chosen charity, Guide Dogs UK, which supports nearly two million people in the UK living with sight loss. Of those affected, around 180,000 individuals rarely leave their homes alone, leading lonely and isolated lives.
Live Tracking and Public Support
Anyone wishing to follow the councillor's progress can view a live tracker link on the Mayor's Facebook page throughout the day. Brown expressed his excitement for the challenge, stating, “I am excited for this challenge and to support the Mayor, I hope to be able to raise a significant amount to make a major contribution to covering the cost of training at least one new guide dog with this challenge.” He also highlighted the opportunities provided by the older person's concessionary travel pass, which allows free travel not only locally but across the country.
Mayor's Gratitude and Impact
The Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Richard Butler, commented, “This is an exciting and fun way to raise funds for my charity, and I am very grateful to Councillor Brown for thinking of this initiative.” He added, “Training a guide dog is an incredible skill and requires a lot of money both during the training and also throughout the time that the dog is looking after and guiding its owner, so I hope this challenge can help make a difference by supporting a great cause.” Donations can be made online via the official Mayor’s JustGiving page.
