Hamilton Classic helps ASDA raise money for charity
Hamilton Classic’s Alastair Flack was out in action again in his Triumph TR7 V8 rally car at Bruntingthorpe this month giving passenger rides on the ex-airfield proving ground in Leicestershire with the sole purpose of raising money for charity.
The event, run by Asda Supermarket is called ‘On Your Marks’ and started over 14 years ago because an Asda driver named Mark Higginbottom was diagnosed with Lymphatic cancer and had only a short time to live.
The owner of the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, Mr. David Walton kindly gave Asda permission to hold a fund raising day and the event was born.
Unfortunately Mark passed away before the day, but £7,500 was raised for Mark's wife and children at that inaugural event. 15 years later and the event has raised in excess of £430,000 for cancer related charities. From a few hundred people attending on that 1st year, they now have in excess of 20,000 Asda colleagues, their families and invited guests that come along and enjoy this spectacular day.
The nominated charities are invited along with some of the children the money is for and a special ‘wish gate’ is opened after the lunch break with the children given the ride of their lives by allowing them to pick the cars they would like to be driven around in. Other attendees are able to pledge money for a ride in the car of their choice and the Hamilton Classic TR7V8 rally car was on hand to give them the ride of their lives!
Besides the charity pleasure rides there are other attractions too, stunt riders on motorbikes, air displays and aircraft plus a number of invited car clubs and their display cars.
This year’s charity was Orchid, who aim to fight male cancer through a range of services, pioneering research and promoting awareness.
