Baxenden father and son to drive across the Alps for charity (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Baxenden father and son to drive across the Alps for charity
10:22am Thursday 15th September 2011 in Baxenden
GOOD LUCK The Mayor and Mayoress and Rob
A FATHER and son are embarking on an epic 2,700-mile journey over the Alps to Italy in a 13-year-old Volkswagen Polo.
Rob Balfour, 43, and his 10-year-old son Ben are taking part in the Scally Rally 2011 in aid of Urban Outreach, which helps runaway children, homeless people and ex-offenders.
The event is billed as a “banger” rally and the duo will be travelling to Rimini.
Rob, of Baxenden, is hoping the vehicle will make it over the mountain roads, which are some of the most testing conditions in Europe.
He said: “The rules of the rally are that the cars taking part must not cost more than £100. That is the cost of the Volkswagen. But we were allowed to spend money on the vehicle to make it fully roadworthy.“ After travelling by ferry from Dover, Rob and Ben will join the starting line-up in Calais tomorrow.
They will later travel through Switzerland before reaching their destintion in Italy.
Rob said: “I’ll be driving while Ben will be map reading and doing the navigating. We are scheduled to arrive at our destination on Monday afternoon. After spen-ding a short time in Italy, we’ll head back and should be in the UK again on Thursday. We’re really looking forward to it.”
En route, there will be mini challenges and prizes. Supporter Bolton Mayor, Coun Noel Spencer, wished Rob well.
To sponsor Rob and Ben, visit www.ubanoutreach. co.uk/scallyrally or call 01204 385848.
