20 years ago, probably inspired by watching too many car shows, I suggested to a group of friends that we buy some crap cars and drive them as far as we could. We ended up in Athens after one of the most haphazard and fun experiences of our lives.

Sensing we were onto something, the next year we invited members of the public to drive with us to Istanbul. 75 people enrolled, and signed up to do it for an emerging charity- Teenage Cancer Trust. One of the participants was a young guy called Adam, who despite losing a leg as a result of cancer, threw himself fully into the madness.

Two decades, 12 events and over a thousand participants later, we’ve raised over a million quid for TCT and other causes. And although Adam sadly passed in 2008, his family and friends have returned every year to celebrate his life. We’ve taken the event to India, Mexico, Morrocco, Ukraine. Oh and naturally we made two TV series and a feature doc about it too (you can find them on the Extreme Sports Channel and Tubi).

The downside is, it’s a lot of work, and as we’ve grown older and our families and jobs have filled more of our lives, trying to put the passion and effort into every event has gotten harder and harder. That’s why this year we’ve decided to go out with a bang. ‘Dumball 2025: The End of the Road’ is the last ever Dumball. We’ve poured everything into the event- and veterans from over the years, and their grown up kids are coming back for the ride.

On that note, my nephew (who was born the year we did the first one!) is coming with me- and, dressed as bizarre looking spacemen, we will be driving an extremely unreliable MGZF 3000 miles around Europe, ending in Majorca. Just like the first one, the days will be long and loads will go wrong…. You can’t beat a Dumball for helping you to grasp that life is about the journey- not the destination.

We’re doing it all for War Child- a charity that couldn’t be more important right now. They operate in many of the countries we visited in more peaceful times.

Help us go out in style- and please donate. Not least because this is the last time I’ll be asking my friends and family to put their hands in their pockets!

Rick

War Child is striving for a world in which no child's life is torn apart by war. They protect, educate and stand up for the rights of children living in war zones.

By making a donation, you will be making a difference to thousands of children whose lives have been turned upside-down by conflict. You’ll help War Child provide the emergency care and support they need to overcome the emotional and physical toll of conflict, as well as access to services to catch up on lost education that will help to transform their futures for the better.