Craig Cheetham on going topless for charity…
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
I’m definitely not one for taking my top off in public. Anyone who knows me will tell you why not. That's why my heroes of this month’s charity pages are the seven selfless dads from Derbyshire mentioned in News in Brief over the page, who took to the roads of England, Wales and Scotland back in January to raise money for the mental health charity, MIND.
They took two old VW Golf MkIII convertibles, both with the top down, and at every point of the journey at least one of the brave so-and-sos had to expose his entire upper dad bod to the elements. In total, they raised over £10k for a charity that is hugely relevant at all times, but even more so in the middle of winter, which is when they did it.
Simon et al, you have my utmost respect, not only for raising much-needed funds for a charity that I personally hold in especially high regard, but more so for being complete and utter lunatics. It’s reassuring that there are others out there who will go to the daftest of extremes to raise both money and awareness.
The topless dads aren’t the only people who’ve gone to great lengths to combine classic cars and fundraising in recent months though, while our main feature this month tells you how you can make a small difference of your own when you dust off your classic, or hit the road in your year-round retro, to mark Drive It Day and help swell the coffers of the NSPCC. Classic cars and acts of charity go hand-in-hand, and it makes me hugely proud to be a part of it all.
Got a charity event coming up or know a hero?
It’s time we give people the kudos they deserve!
Craig Cheetham, PC Charities Correspondent
If you, your car club or your friends have got anything planned to raise money for charity, we absolutely want to hear about it and talk about it in these pages. Please drop us a line at practicalclassics@bauermedia.co.uk and we’ll help you in any way we can.
FOCUSING ON…
Use your classic – and help kids who need it most
Spring in the air, and with it comes one of the best national events going – the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs’ ‘Drive It Day’, which this year takes place on April 23. For the third year running, the annual celebration in which owners are encouraged to get out and drive their old cars is working closely with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to raise much needed funds towards the funding of Childline, the national helpline for children in distress.
The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs created Drive-It Day in 2005 to celebrate the occasion in 1900 when 65 vehicles drove from London to Edinburgh, returning to London to prove th
