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VIDEO: Leeds 'bumble bee' police trek across Europe
THREE motorists who are gearing up to nail seven countries in seven days is an ambitious mission in itself.
Even more so when it's in a clapped-out old Peugot 106 worth 50 which has been resprayed to resemble a bumble bee.
West Yorkshire bobbies Simon Ellis, 36, and Matthew Wilkinson, 28, have taken on the challenge along with vehicle technician Craig Brooksbank, 23.
The trio will be buzzing across Europe in a bid to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust after joining forces with a Guiseley nursery.
Simon told the YEP:" We are all used to helping people – Matthew and I are police officers and we thought wouldn't it be good to do something to help? We approached a local nursery and asked if they had a charity they raised money for and theirs is Cystic Fibrosis Trust."
The Leapfrog Day Nursery – part of the Busy Bee Group – has already raised thousands of pounds for their chosen charity so the three decided to help.
Simon continued: "The nursery's parent company name features bees so we thought we would transform the car into a bee. We've got the kids involved, they have been baking cakes, rattling money tins at fairs and they have raised thousands."
Meanwhile, the motoring trio have been given the 14-year-old, 50 car which will travel from Guiseley to Krakow, Poland, for the Motoscape Rally road trip.
The banger rally event sees participants purchase a car for under 250 before starting in St Omer in France, just a few miles south of Calais.
Teams then go to Koblenz in Germany before taking in pitstops in Switzerland, Davos – the 'world's best driving road' – Italy, Slovenia and Olomouc, in the Czech Republic.
The total route spans 1,575 miles and children from the nursery will be charting the team's progress.
Simon said: "I am feeling disorganised, nervous but with great anticipation. We will be given challenges along the way like in Top Gear and some of the route will take us through some of the top driving roads in Europe."
The team will take to the road tomorrow morning to begin their adventure.
Helen Burton, deputy nursery manager, at the Leapfrog Day Nursery, in Park Road, Guiseley, said: "I think it's fantastic. It's a great way to raise money for a very good cause.
"It's nice that these local officers have got onboard to help us."
The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, which was founded in 1964, has been working to improve the lives of people with the illness as well as raising the profile and funding research into a cure.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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