Gathering signatures on a written off banger and driving it around Europe has netted more than £2,000 for charity, thanks to car rally enthusiast Aaron Palmer.
Mr Palmer completed the challenge to drive through several countries in one week in a car costing less than £333. He more than doubled his fundraising target of £1,000, which will go to The Teenage Cancer Trust.
Mr Palmer, an assistant branch manager for Parker Building Supplies in Hassocks, Sussex, was behind the wheel of a 10-year-old Ford Mondeo. He named it The Signature Car and asked people to sign their name on it, in exchange for making a donation.
The rally took Mr Palmer and his wife Stephanie through several countries. They started in the UK and drove through France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and Italy, ending up in the Czech Republic.
Mr Palmer said: “We took part in the challenge because it was something very different to do - you wouldn’t ordinarily do that on a week’s holiday. It was also an opportunity to raise money for charity in a different way. It was a fantastic experience and I really enjoyed driving up the Stelvio Pass in Italy, which has 48 hairpin bends. I’m not sure Stephanie was too keen though!”
Parker Building Supplies’ financial and commercial director, Stewart Pierce, added: “We’re all proud of Aaron for completing this challenge and raising so much money for charity. It sounds like a great adventure and an experience that the couple will always remember.”
