Wellingborough man set for 2,500-mile European road trip to raise money for charity

A Wellingborough man will drive 2,500 miles across Europe in a Top Gear-style challenge to raise money for a charity which supports people with Down's Syndrome.
Rust Buckets: Cranford: Pre-meet of the Rust Bucket Rally, people driving 2,500 miles across Europe in old banger cars to raise money for Down's Syndrome charity  - Ups and Downs

Tuesday May 17 2016 NNL-160517-201851009Rust Buckets: Cranford: Pre-meet of the Rust Bucket Rally, people driving 2,500 miles across Europe in old banger cars to raise money for Down's Syndrome charity  - Ups and Downs

Tuesday May 17 2016 NNL-160517-201851009
Rust Buckets: Cranford: Pre-meet of the Rust Bucket Rally, people driving 2,500 miles across Europe in old banger cars to raise money for Down's Syndrome charity - Ups and Downs Tuesday May 17 2016 NNL-160517-201851009

Carl Baldry is organising and taking part in the Rust Bucket Rally with a number of others from the area and across the country, which sees entrants complete the mammoth trek in just four days from June 3 to 6.

But there’s a twist – competitors can only drive cars which they’ve bought for £500 or less.

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Mr Baldry, an airport transfer taxi driver by trade, will be driving a yellow Saab convertible and cannot wait to get going.

He said: “I bought it for £410 but it had no MOT so it needed a bit of work.

“We’re basically driving to Venice and back in four days.

“We’re driving to the Champagne region in France, then to the Black Forest in Germany, to the Swiss border and through the Dolomites in Italy to Venice.

“On the way back we’ll drive from Venice to Frankfurt and then home.

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“There’s 60 of us going in 21 different cars and we’re hoping to drive for about 12 hours each day.”

Mr Baldry was previously involved in a similar challenge two years ago.

Now he wants to give back again by raising money for the Ups N Downs charity in Northamptonshire.

He added: “We’ve raised £6,000 straight away from entrance money and we’re hoping to raise £10,000.

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“I know about the charity because there is a boy in my son’s class at school with Down’s Syndrome.

“It’s nice to do something for a smaller charity which maybe doesn’t get as much help as others.

“To them, £10,000 would make a huge difference.”

To donate to Mr Baldry’s cause, click here.