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READ ON!  HELP US TO DOUBLE OUR TARGET AND REACH THE MAGIC £1000.00!!!

The Challenge

To do something to celebrate 50 years of the "Original" Mini, father and son John and David Kennedy drove John's Mini John Cooper LE, one of the last made, from Lands End to John O'Groats in one hop.  They shared the driving, of course.  They left Lands End on Friday 19th June at 1.15 in the afternoon and drove through the night, to reach John O'Groats at 8.00 o'clock on the morning of Saturday 20th June.  They stopped only to re-fuel (themselves as well as the car) and change drivers.  As it was the week-end of the longest day, there was little driving in the dark.  The whole journey of 884 miles was completed in 18 hours and 45 minutes, an average speed of 47 mph, including, re-fuelling(small tank), food and "comfort" stops.  They used approximately 85 litres of fuel giving an average of 48 mpg.  Most of the journey was spent at 60 - 65 mph, where legal.

The Good Cause

A trip like this must be used to raise money for a good cause by way of sponsorship.  John has three healthy grown up children and two grand-daughters who bring him much happiness.  Having spent over thirty years as a teacher, he is mindful of the welfare of young people.

They chose Helen and Douglas House in Oxford (where the first Minis were made), a hospice caring for very sick children and young people and their families.  They felt they wanted to support a lesser known charity.

Details left and at www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

How much to give?

Acknowledging taht there are many charitable calls on pockets and purses, and that many people support charities in their own way, do not feel obliged to give a lot.  Think of the value of something you enjoy.  A bottle of wine or beer, a bar of chocolate, a trip to the cinema, the County Ground or Fratton Park, a Costa or Starbucks Special.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/john-and-david

The Car

One of the last Minis made and one of only 200 Mini John Cooper LE's.  1275cc, fuel injected with wide alloy wheels and fat tyres.  The interior is full Grenadine leather with a turned aluminium dash.  Brooklands Green with white roof and bonnet stripes.  The car behaved absolutely faultlessly and both John and David found it surprisingly comfortable.

The Drivers

John, originally from The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, now living in Highworth, is a 62 year old former teacher who has also worked as a chauffeur, motorcycle courier and transport assistant at Swindon Borough Council, dealing with school transport.  Married to Angela for 39 years.  A son and two daughters and two grand-daughters.  Other hobbies include photography, motor-cycling, beer and wine making and cycling.  (In 2007 he celebrated reaching 60 by raising over £600 in the Cancer Research Bike Ride)

David, originally from Highworth, now lives on Hayling Island.  He is a 37 year old Air Traffic Controller.  Other hobbies include vintage buses (he has a 30 year old Bristol VR double decker bus), motorcycling, winter sports and music.

They both completed an "End to End" run on two Czeckoslovakian JAWA-CZ motorcycles in the Summer of  1992, John's JAWA being fitted with a sidecar.  They raised over £600 for St John's Hospital in Mzuzu, Malawi.

 

Unable to donate on line?  Cheques to John at 57 Sevenfields, Highworth, Swindon, SN6 7NG

01793 763577

Thank you for reading all this to the end, and, if you have, thanks for donating.