The Disaudley Deserters will be attempting The 2008 Plymouth Banjul Challenge, setting off with their fleet of old non 4x4 bangers on 21 November in order to raise money for Sobell House Hospice in Oxfordshire, www.sobellhospiceoxford.org that does incredible work and has personal connections to members on the team. We also will be raising money for two local Gambian charities, Wonder Years (WYCE) www.wonderyearsce.co.uk and the Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Trust, www.chimprehab.com. There will be a 50:25:25 split between the three charities. We have covered all expenses ourselves so any donations made will go straight to these charities.

Take a look at our website, www.disaudleydeserters.co.uk that will give further details on the rally as well as the keeping up as our story unfolds, leading up to our imminent departure and then on the rally. There will be details of other fundraising activities and plenty of blogs and photos to keep you entertained.To contact us, please email info@disaudleydeserters.co.uk.

Donating through Just Giving is quick, easy and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Sobell House Hospice Charity will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation at no cost to you.

So please dig deep and sponsor us now online. Thank you so much for supporting our madcap venture.

The Disaudley Deserters 

(Cate, James, Joe, Dan, Alex, Iona and Hetts)

Throughout Oxfordshire, Sobell House Hospice provides outstanding first class care and support for its patients either as in-patients, day-patients or in their own homes. Although run by the NHS, without the significant funds raised by Sobell House Hospice Charity, Sobell would not be able to maintain its high service levels or run 18 beds. If the charity was unable to make its annual donation, many beds from a 20 bed unit would have to be closed.

The hospice was specifically set up to assist those requiring acute long or short term palliative care, mostly cancer patients with months or only weeks left, ensuring they have a comfortable and dignified end to their lives. Sobell House is invaluable to patients and families and continues indefinite support and bereavement care to the families left behind. There are very few people in Oxfordshire whose lives have not been touched in some way by Sobell House.

Much work remains to be done if we are to achieve our aim of keeping Sobell House Hospice running at maximum capacity.