Three friends from South Yorkshire are gearing up for the adventure of a lifetime as they prepare to take on the Bangers and Cash car rally to raise money for Ashgate Hospice.
Steve Edson, Jonny Blank and Luke Taylor will be among 45 teams taking part in the charity rally from September 17 to 21, covering 950 miles across two countries over five days. Starting in Chesterfield, the trio will travel the route to Whitby via the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, Scottish Highlands and Edinburgh. And all within their London black cab!
Their aim is to raise £2,500 for Ashgate, which provides support each year to over 2,600 people across North Derbyshire with life-limiting illnesses.
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“I’ve done a few big driving trips before, including the North Coast 500 and a rally around Wales, and I loved every minute,” Steve said.
“But I’ve never done anything like this for charity. Ashgate is a local charity doing incredible work for people right on our doorstep, and the three of us are proud to be supporting this great cause.”
After recruiting his long-time friends Jonny - who he’s been pals with since meeting at school 24 years ago - and Luke, the trio set about finding the perfect vehicle for the challenge.
They chose a 2010 London TX4 with 320,000 miles on the clock. Previously owned by a man in his 80s from Manchester, the taxi spent years on the road before being officially decommissioned as a taxi. Now, it’s preparing for one final adventure.
The three friends, representing Spacestar Digital, hope people will support them as they join the Bangers and Cash rally. Added Steve: “We're looking forward to the adventure of taking it on together - the scenery, the challenges, the questionable playlists, and the threat of breaking down, which should keep things interesting.
“Hardknott Pass in a black cab with an auto gearbox should be a particular highlight - or disaster, we'll see.
“Our aim is simple: finish the rally, raise as much as we possibly can for Ashgate, and give the old cab one last great send-off.”
To support the team’s fundraising efforts, head to their JustGiving page. Supporters can also follow their progress via their website at https://highlandhackney.com .
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire
