We are team 'One for the Road', official entrants taking part in the 2022 Veterans Banger Rally, The team comprises myself (Karl Kirkcaldy), John Haskell, Pete Snell and Dan Walters, all from Alderholt in Dorset. Our aim is to raise as much money as possible by fundraising in support of the fight against cancer, as well as donating towards the armed forces charity SSAFA, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, a UK charity that provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families or dependents.

Cancer affects so many of us, at all stages of our lives, and has a devastating effect on families and friends. All members of the team have recent personal experience of the pain and suffering cancer causes both to those diagnosed with the disease and to loved ones who have to go through it with them. Whilst there are many worthy cancer charities out there, being a British Army veteran, one in particular caught my attention, Military vs Cancer.

Military vs Cancer utilises the strength in numbers we have amongst the serving and ex-serving military community to organise fundraising which directly benefits cancer charities in the UK. Military vs Cancer is aiming to provide much needed funds to fight cancer now and in the future, and also to care for those who are unfortunate enough to have been diagnosed.

We have set ourselves a significant challenge in raising a total of £1000 to go towards the £94,000 Military vs Cancer has already raised. Their target is £100k and we are hoping to help them achieve this by taking part in the 2022 Veterans Banger Rally. This involves driving a £500 banger 1700 miles from Alderholt to Gibraltar via Dover in 5 gruelling days before scrapping the car and making our own way home.

We will be leaving Alderholt on Monday 12 September heading for Dover before commencing the rally with 45 other teams on Tuesday 13 September. The route checkpoints are Le Mans, Pau, Valencia, Malaga, and hopefully finishing in Gibraltar on Saturday 17 September at midday. After crossing the finish line, our £500 banger will be handed over to a local car dealer to arrange for the vehicle to be scrapped, and we then work out a way to get back home!

Alderholt Sports & Social Club is our team HQ and we will be holding a farewell fundraiser there on Saturday 10 September, when we will reveal our fundraising total at the end of the night. More details nearer the time! In the meantime, please help us raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause. Any donation no matter what the amount is greatly appreciated and goes some way to helping us reach our target.