Men's 1,000-mile 'old bangers' MND charity drive

Vintage car drivers have taken to the roads for a 1,000-mile charity challenge to raise money for a motor neurone disease (MND) treatment centre named after Rob Burrow.

Over four days, the group from North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire are travelling across the United Kingdom in vehicles valued at under £3,000 and dating prior to 1980.

They aim to raise £9,000 to match the success of their previous "old banger" challenge which supported Ukraine relief.

One driver, Keith Stewart, said the cause was close to his heart after experiencing loss to MND.

"One of my best friends died from it in 2018," said Mr Stewart, from York.

"We had been buddies for well over 50 years so it was a great loss and it's a really horrible disease."

He credited rugby league legends Burrow and Kevin Sinfield as the reason for increased public awareness about MND.

Mr Stewart and friend Geoff Gray set off on Monday in a 1953 Ford Prefect, with the route taking in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, the south coast, Wales, Merseyside, the Lake District and back to Yorkshire.

"We're losing water, we're leaking oil, so we've got that to contend with," Mr Stewart said.

"It's not the most comfortable car, but it's good for about 45mph."

He added: "Each day we've got to do 250 miles, and that takes quite a long time at that sort of speed."

Harrogate-based John Vause and Philip Oldfield, from Wakefield, are taking turns to drive a 1966 Singer and duo Jon Langley and Geoff Pinch came up from Bath in a 1972 Saab.

"We got by with some ropey old cars in 2022 but this year we're going all out to smash the £9,000 barrier because it's such an important cause," Mr Stewart said.

"Kevin Sinfield keeps running himself into the ground with his marathon running and with a bit of luck we'll be a bit quicker than him," he joked.

The Rob Burrow Centre for MND is set to open at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds this year.

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