A convoy of Land Rover Defender lovers including one grateful owner of a transplanted kidney, will take a tough, off-road based route visiting the Renal Transplant Centres of mainland Britain between 23rd June and 8th July 2018.

We want to raise awareness and a substantial amount of money for Kidney Research UK. 

We will be using as many Green Lanes as possible, avoiding major roads and motorways.  The kidney shaped route will take us around the UK, covering about 2500 miles taking us over all types of terrain.  We will be camping out in the Great British wilderness!

We will visit UK Transplant Centres for both mainstream and children’s hospitals as well as other locations to raise money whilst spreading the name and work of Kidney Research UK and Kids Kidney Research.  This will help Kidney Research UK in their objective of improving Patient Engagement at these Centres. We will also meet the researchers and scientists and witness first hand the amazing work being undertaken. 

WHY

As a truly grateful recipient of a kidney transplant, I have
been trying to give as much back to the renal community as possible through the charity Kidney Research UK. 

My kidneys failed and became a danger to the rest of my body.  They had to be removed and I then spent three years on dialysis. Dialysis was difficult for my young family.  Eventually I had the amazing fortune to be offered a transplant.  The recovery period and the setbacks were not easy but eventually I have returned to good health.

This challenge celebrates the lives saved by transplant, those still waiting and the many friends and relatives lost along the way.

THE TEAM

I am really humbled to have an amazing team of people undertaking this challenge with me and appreciate those in support.  I will be joined on this journey by my son Thomas a1988 Defender 90, Stuart Mason and his 1958 Series 2, Dr Jonathan Levy and his Defender 90, Mat Hobbs, Simon Michaels, Paul Lawrence and many others.

OUR ROUTE

Day 1 Saturday 23rd June 9.30 Royal Free Hampstead 12.00 Hammersmith 16.00 Portsmouth
Day 2 Sunday 24th June Free
Day 3 Monday 25th June 9.00 Plymouth 15.00 Bristol Children 16.45 North Bristol
Day 4 Tuesday 26th June 12.00 Birmingham 14.30 Birmingham Children
Day 5 Wednesday 27th June Free
Day 6 Thursday 28th June 10.00 Liverpool 13.00 Manchester*
Day 7 Friday 29th June Free
Day 8 Saturday 30th June 10.00 Glasgow*
Day 9 Sunday 1st July 10.00 Edinburgh
Day 10 Monday 2nd July Free
Day 11 Tuesday 3rd July 10.00 Newcastle                                      Day 12 Wednesday 4th July 10.00 Leeds Children 13.00 Leeds St James                                                                                                     Day 13 Thursday 5th July 12.30 Nottingham 14.30 Nottingham Children.                                                                                                 Day 14 Friday 6th July 9.00 Leicester 15.00Cambridge                      Day 15 Saturday 7th July 10.00 Oxford                                             Day 16 Sunday 8th July 15.00 Great Ormond Street

YOU CAN TRACK OUR JOURNEY THANKS TO THE TRANSPORT EXCHANGE GROUP:  

https://transportexchangegroup.com/2018/06/teg-supporting-defenders-4-kidneys/

That way people can track and learn more about you.

Please  come and visit us on our route and also support our cause by donating through JustGiving on this page.

Thank you for your generous support.

Barry.

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