Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.
STOP PRESS :- We made it!! 1200 pictures of the Mille Miglia, 4 Alpine passes [but not the Stelvio, still closed]. Pictures will be available soon, with the story of the trip;
See the pictures of the journey at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bob_debell/sets/72157617159593461/
I am trying to raise some money for a well deserving charity. In 2000 the people of Wetherby and District responded magnificently to a flood disaster at Vila Maninga, in Mozambique, and raised enough through a social evening to replace the lost batch of corn seed. We, as a family, have been helping the people at Vila Maninga for over 10 years, and have seen real benefits to individuals and families in Mozambique. Now the Vila has progressed and they still need money. Some of the orphans of 2000 are now young men and women, and the school they started has been taken over by the Government. See the details at http://www.vila-maninga.org/.
The project is:
A pair of pensioners in an old car will drive almost 3000 miles in an attempt to cross 8 countries, get round over 100 hairpin bends and rise over 9000 feet above sea level, then photograph 300+ 50 year old cars in the Mille Miglia rally.
Bob and June Debell, from Collingham, West Yorkshire are planning a trip to raise money for Vila Maninga in Mozambique. The Vila provides Foster homes for orphans; a Primary School; Vocational Training work; a Christian Training college; Homes for the elderly and a day Clinic. All of these are at one location in Mozambique, a poor country recovering from civil war. The Vila has suffered both flood and fire over the last few years.
I will drive the little car in the picture from the Wetherby Classic Car Club meeting at the Pax Inn, Thorp Arch, near Wetherby, West Yorkshire to Italy to photograph the competing cars in the Mille Miglia Regulation Rally. [The TV chef James Martin entered the rally and made a programme for BBC Television last year. see http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00g82ff ].
The trip will be pleasurable, and I shall meet all the costs myself. Please consider sponsoring the drive, either with a lump sum, or you could make a donation if you like the pictures. Even better, ask me to deliver a presentation to your club or group in return for a donation.
Pictures eventually at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=715154644
The fund raising effort, in May 2009, includes:
Total mileage approx 3300 miles. Total hours driving approx 50. Crossing 8 countries, over 100 hairpin bends in the mountains, rising to 9045 feet above sea level and the highest road bridge in the world. A real challenge for a pair of pensioners in an old car.
The culmination of the trip is to take photographs of over 300 cars racing in the Mille Miglia Regulation Rally. All these cars are at least 50 years old, and they have to cover 1000 miles in 3 days. Finally post photographs of the journey and a diary on the internet.
The full driving schedule is:
12th May 6.15 pm., leave Wetherby Classic Car Club meeting at the Pax Inn, Thorp Arch, drive to Hull and cross to Rotterdam. 60 miles, 1 hour plus sea crossing.
13th May drive via the Dutch bulb fields from Rotterdam to Nesselwang, Germany, 500 miles, 7 hours
14th May drive Nesselwang to Lovere via the Stelvio Pass [The second highest in the Alps at 9045 feet and 60 hairpins] 200 miles, 6 hours. If the Stelvio is still closed, we will use the Simplon Pass in Switzerland.
15th May drive Grosio to the Mille Miglia museum in Brescia, then on to Raticosa Pass, 300 miles, 6 hours.
16th May photograph the Mille Miglia Regulation Rally as it passes, 4 hours photography. Up to 350 cars, all built between 1927 and 1957.
17th May set off for home via Tuscany and France, including the Millau Bridge and possibly the Monaco Grand Prix. Tallest vehicle bridge in the world, 40+ hairpins, 1450 miles, 25 - 30 hours driving.
All money donated goes direct to Vila Maninga.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Vila Maninga gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please give a little for Vila Maninga. All money donated goes to the Vila. My son and his wife are trustees for the charity in the UK. They visited the Vila [at their own expense] in August 2008 to check on progress. Their report can be read on http://www.vila-maninga.org/.
Thank you for reading this communique.
Bob Debell
