Firstly, thank-you for taking the time to look at our page, with your help we intend to get one step closer to finding a cure to Multiple Sclerosis and change millions of peoples lives!

We are Tom and Kelly, mid 20 year olds from North-East England who love everything outdoors. MS effects us because my Mum, Jo, has suffered with MS for a number of years, with it's symptoms taking over more and more of her daily life. My Mum is also a lover of the outdoors, touring the UK and a knows a thing or two about cars so this project fits perfect with her! Tom and I first came up with the concept of "Operation Phoenix Overland" in March 2017 after the purchase of "Landie", Tom's 1966 Landrover Series 2a. The vehicle is steeped in UK history, having spent a lot of it's time around Durham's steam railway, Tanfield. Coincidently, Tom regularly volunteers at as a driver and has volunteered there since he was a child. Tom purchased "Landie" in March after it had stood unused in a railway van body for 21 years, being taken off the road in 1996, after he was unable to resist the temptation restoring it to its former glory.

Phoenix Overland is all about taking a vehicle which once worked, restoring it, getting it mobile again and then touring the UK with it in September 2018! The concept being related to that person living with MS getting to grips with their diagnosis and getting mobile again. Our Landie is no racing car, topping 55mph with a tail wind, but it is mobile nonetheless! MS, similarly, may slow you down but it doesn't have to stop you entirely. We want to take our Land Rover on the classic run from John O'Groats to Lands End, but with a bit more travelling in for good measure (primarily because we start at our home in Newcastle). Our journey will made of no more than 200 mile a day drives, touring the UK covering North, West, South and East coast (in that order) and visiting points of personal interest. Tom loves all things machine and Kelly loves horses. We mutually love history and so we've built our stopovers around these interests.

We plan on building up as much awareness and support for the MS Society on the run up to our journey, and we hope that with the help from our supporters we aid the journey toward the next research breakthrough for the charity. Thank-you for visiting our page, your support means so much to us. JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they never sell them on or send unwanted emails and what's more, once you make your donation, it will go directly to the charity! We really hope that with your help we can make a difference to the MS Society and all it offers.

- Kelly