Chairman of The Guild of Motoring Writers, Charlotte Blight, is pretty handy behind the wheel of a car – and now she is set to test her driving skills in an assortment of less conventional vehicles, all to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.
She is set to take part in the 2010 Marie Curie Ladies Challenge Driving Day. Billed as the ultimate driving event, it encourages participants to throw caution to the wind and drive such unusual vehicles as fire engines, HGVs, double-decker buses, JCBs and dump trucks, in order to help the charity fund many more hours of nursing.
Marie Curie Nurses provide a unique free service of specialist cancer care in the home, throughout the day or night, 365 days a year. Their presence enables terminally ill patients to remain in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by loved ones, during the difficult later stages of their lives.
Charlotte, who will be calling on her experience of Snowcats, Unimogs, quad bikes and Zetor tractors, says: "The service Marie Curie Nurses provide is not something we want to think about, yet one day we could be mightily relieved they are around. So let us keep the charity going. The event organisers know I am chairman of The Guild of Motoring Writers, so spectators will be watching particularly closely to see how well I do. Or badly, for that matter! But I am keen to raise plenty of sponsorship money."
The local Ladies Challenge Driving Day for Charlotte, one of numerous events to be staged around the UK, takes place at RAF Portreath near Redruth, Cornwall, on 5 September. To sponsor her, please visit www.justgiving.com/heelsonfire to register your donation and leave a word of encouragement. Every entrant is asked to raise at least £100, but Charlotte believes in the generosity of her peers and has pledged to raise at least double that amount. All funds are gratefully received.
For more information on the charity please see www.mariecurie.org.uk
