'Hippies' to tackle 3000-mile fundraising rally (From York Press)

'Hippies' to tackle Screwball Rally in aid of Families Against Neuroblastoma charity

8:10am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

A TEAM of “hippies” has set off on a 3,000-mile journey around Europe to raise money for a children’s charity.

Gavin Pugh, Mark Gray, Del Hartley and Chris Jakowyszyn will travel across nine countries in a 20-year-old Toyota people carrier which they bought online as part of the Screwball Rally.

The team hope to raise £2,000 for Families Against Neuroblastoma, the charity which supported Thomas Cammack and his family during the Selby boy’s year-long battle with the childhood cancer.

Gavin, from Hemingbrough, said: “We decided to raise money for Families Against Neuroblastoma as we had seen the stories in the local papers and on Facebook of Thomas Cammack’s brave fight against cancer. This is a fantastic charity which really helps the children and their families.

“Mark and Del were about for the hippy era, but I’m not sure if they’re enjoying having long hair again. I think we will have had enough of the wigs by the end of the trip. We’ve been getting a lot of funny looks, which will be interesting at Customs.”

The four men have already set off to Dover, and from there, will travel to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Lichtenstein, Austria, Germany, then back to France before heading home.

Del is also from Hemingbrough, Chris is from Barlby, while Mark lives near Barnsley. The team will take it in shifts to drive the vehicle- which has been decorated as a tribute to the hippy heyday.

Gavin, who works as a financial services director in York, said: “The Screwball Rally is a banger race, with a limit of £750 to spend on a car. The Toyota Lucida cost £450.

“We would like to thank everyone who has sponsored us, and Union Tyres Ltd in Selby, JD Body Repairs in Barlby, and Space3 Creative in Dewsbury, for all their help with the car.”

The team will be posting regular updates, including pictures, at justgiving.com/gav-mark-chris-and-del-screwball-for-fan