Top Gear-style charity challenge

Our MD Nigel Bottom and a group of five friends from Lincoln are about to embark on a four day road trip, covering 2,400 miles across the UK in a 20 year old ex-funeral car (as reported by The Lincolnite).
They are aiming to reach the highest and lowest, most easterly, westerly, northerly and southerly points of the UK in an old Rover limousine worth less than a large TV – all whilst raising money for six fantastic charities.
The challenge was the brainchild of Nigel Bottom, MD Witham Oil & Paint Ltd:
“We had to find a car that would transport six of us for under £1000.  We happened upon an old limousine ex-funeral car which broke down on its maiden voyage – not the best start!”
“In 96 hours, we’ve got to cover 2,400 miles – the equivalent of driving to Turkey!  The six of us will share the driving which means we have to achieve an average of 25mph driving for 24hrs a day. Its an old car and with 6 of us in it at one time it should be a real challenge to get us around the country and back again in 96 hours. We hope we and the car will make it!”

The car before

The car after a spruce up!

The men have been working hard over the summer trying to raise as much money as possible.
The team, all from Lincoln, have chosen charities that are close to their hearts to raise money for:

• Nigel Bottom, MD Witham Group – Lincs & Nott’s Air Ambulance
• Nigel Laing, owner of local construction firm Riva Construction – Lincolnshire St Barnabas Hospice
• Ian Sheldon, Ian Sheldon Plumbing Services from Thorpe on the Hill – Cancer Research UK
• Paul Thompson,  Lincs Metal Polishing – The National Autistic Society
• Darren Gourley, Area Training Manager, Rugby Football Union – RFU Injured Players Foundation
• Adam Cox, MD at Burton Waters Marina – RLNI
• George Thompson,  Engineer, “Chief Mechanic” will be supporting the crew in a second vehicle.

The team has raised over £8,000 so far and are hoping to raise even more as the challenge gets underway. They are busy contacting as many friends, customers, and local people to raise as much money as possible.  They are using the Just Giving link page below so that donations can be made at the touch of a button.

• They set off from Lincoln at 5am this Thursday morning and hope to return within the 96 hours on Sunday.

• Thursday 8th September – Lincoln to Lowestoft (via Holme Fen, Peterborough) to Lands-End – approx. 650 miles

• Friday 9th September – Lands-End to St. David’s to Penrith – approx. 650 miles

• Saturday 10th September – Penrith to John O’Groats (via Ben Nevis) – approx. 550 miles

• Sunday – John O’Groats to Lincoln – approx. 550 miles

The support car

Group fundraising page – https://www.justgiving.com/teams/GBRoadTripChallenge
Updates on the team’s progress will be posted on the Witham Group Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/Withamgroup/
Thank you for your support!