Robin Reliant challenge a nightmare for three fundraisers (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Robin Reliant challenge a nightmare for three fundraisers
10:00am Monday 10th September 2012 in News
By Jessica Nightingale, T&A Reporter
A Bradford charity fundraiser and his pals have decided they took on more than they bargained after a bruising 4,600-mile drive across Europe in two Robin Reliants.
Mark Hill, 39, of Wyke , has declared ‘never again’ after a series of breakdowns left the group spending nearly as much as they raised for the cause.
Mr Hill, 39, along with Ian Forster and Nick Rahman of Liverpool, completed the 16-day trip in two 20 year-old Reliants in aid of Forget Me Not children’s hospice.
The trio, who met at university, bought the cars on auction website e-Bay and started their Robin Reliant Challenge from The Transport Museum in Manchester.
On day six on the outskirts of Stockholm, Mr Hill experienced the first problems with his car he had dubbed ‘The Bradford Flyer’ when the carburettor failed.
Mr Hill said: “We must have been to about 18 different garages. People were amazed at the car, they just hadn’t seen anything like it.
“I felt defeated. I thought I was going to have to go home, but people were really nice and tried to help us.
“We did find one garage who said they would have a look, they gave me free food and a car to drive around in while they looked at my car.
“They managed to fix the car and did it free of charge. Their kindness was overwhelming. I was almost at the point of tears.”
During the journey the group passed through 11 countries, including Estonia and Latvia. The friends devised the challenge to support the charity’s hospice in Huddersfield, which is due to extend its services.
Forget Me Not provides care and support for children suffering from life-limiting conditions and their families.
Mr Hill alone spent about £1,000 out of his own pocket completing the challenge. The group is still collecting their sponsorship money but believe they have raised between £1,500 and £2,000 for cause.
Reflecting on his journey Mr Hill added: “It was really hard; it was harder than I ever imagined, especially as I did all the driving myself because my co-driver dropped out.
“The trip was really interesting. People we passed on our journey thought I’d made the car myself. The reaction to the cars alone was just hilarious.
“I wouldn’t do it again – well, not in a Reliant Robin.”
Comments(13)
Albion.
says...
11:12am Mon 10 Sep 12
wobbley-bob wrote:Exactly!
The cars are called Reliant Robins......
Does the numpty who wrote this drive around in a Focus Ford, or a Micra Nissan?
.
Sort it out!
Silsdenman
says...
11:44am Mon 10 Sep 12
Well done to the drivers anyway I bet it was a right larf.
I once did a charity drive which cost me more than it raised and some said I could have sat at home and just given them my money but it was a great experience and the charity got what they should have done so all was well.
Albion.
says...
11:48am Mon 10 Sep 12
Silsdenman wrote:Wasn't it a Regal?
Glad that irritates others as much as it does me. Same when they call Delboy's a Robin Reliant when it isn't even a Robin either.
Well done to the drivers anyway I bet it was a right larf.
I once did a charity drive which cost me more than it raised and some said I could have sat at home and just given them my money but it was a great experience and the charity got what they should have done so all was well.
wobbley-bob
says...
1:54pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Albion. wrote:It was indeed...A Regal 'Supervan' to give it its full title. :-)
Silsdenman wrote:Wasn't it a Regal?
Glad that irritates others as much as it does me. Same when they call Delboy's a Robin Reliant when it isn't even a Robin either.
Well done to the drivers anyway I bet it was a right larf.
I once did a charity drive which cost me more than it raised and some said I could have sat at home and just given them my money but it was a great experience and the charity got what they should have done so all was well.
I love 'em, hilarious & much fun to drive. It's many years since I owned one though.
a reasonable sort of chap
says...
2:26pm Mon 10 Sep 12
JAtkinson
says...
3:22pm Mon 10 Sep 12
Well done on your Robin Reliant Challenge in your Robin Reliants. Shame the Robin Reliants weren't so Robin "Reliant", eh? Fantastic job for a worthy cause. I'll certainly donate a couple of quid in your name.
Robin Reliant.
Silsdenman
says...
12:35am Tue 11 Sep 12
JAtkinson wrote:I don't see any negative comments about the challenge. If you admit on here that it should be Reliant Robin I'll send them a tenner, there's a challenge for you. ;-)
People do a challenge for charity, spend their own money on completing it and raise £2k for a children's hospice and the T&A usual suspects... complain. Truly amazing! We should have a sponsored positive commentathon for you lot.
Well done on your Robin Reliant Challenge in your Robin Reliants. Shame the Robin Reliants weren't so Robin "Reliant", eh? Fantastic job for a worthy cause. I'll certainly donate a couple of quid in your name.
Robin Reliant.
mad matt
says...
7:25am Tue 11 Sep 12
It was a bit like yaughting - you had to shift your weight over to the passenger side to stop the thing flipping over!
Magicmarker28
says...
7:52am Tue 11 Sep 12
if you do sponsor us, then i can't thank you enough, it cost me an arm and a leg to do it, but hopefully the charity will get some well earned money to help them with their hospice and the excellent work they do.
http://www.justgivin
g.com/RobinReliantCh
allenge
thanks all for your support..
Mark
JAtkinson
says...
11:52am Tue 11 Sep 12
Silsdenman wrote:Done.
JAtkinson wrote:I don't see any negative comments about the challenge. If you admit on here that it should be Reliant Robin I'll send them a tenner, there's a challenge for you. ;-)
People do a challenge for charity, spend their own money on completing it and raise £2k for a children's hospice and the T&A usual suspects... complain. Truly amazing! We should have a sponsored positive commentathon for you lot.
Well done on your Robin Reliant Challenge in your Robin Reliants. Shame the Robin Reliants weren't so Robin "Reliant", eh? Fantastic job for a worthy cause. I'll certainly donate a couple of quid in your name.
Robin Reliant.
The correct name of these vehicles is Reliant Robin!
Yours
Atkinson John
They can have a tenner from me if you post a positive comment about the challenge without mentioning the incorrect nomenclature of the Reliants, Robin, Regal or otherwise.
Magicmarker28
says...
11:57am Tue 11 Sep 12
You get in the car and immediately there is a smile on your face....
epic!!
Mark
PS thanks for the donation...
Silsdenman
says...
6:11pm Tue 11 Sep 12
JAtkinson wrote:Well as I said above it's great that they have taken this challenge on in their Plastic Pigs and that the hospice has benefited not only from their actual drive but now also from our discussion about nomenclature. It's all great, well done.
Silsdenman wrote:Done.
JAtkinson wrote:I don't see any negative comments about the challenge. If you admit on here that it should be Reliant Robin I'll send them a tenner, there's a challenge for you. ;-)
People do a challenge for charity, spend their own money on completing it and raise £2k for a children's hospice and the T&A usual suspects... complain. Truly amazing! We should have a sponsored positive commentathon for you lot.
Well done on your Robin Reliant Challenge in your Robin Reliants. Shame the Robin Reliants weren't so Robin "Reliant", eh? Fantastic job for a worthy cause. I'll certainly donate a couple of quid in your name.
Robin Reliant.
The correct name of these vehicles is Reliant Robin!
Yours
Atkinson John
They can have a tenner from me if you post a positive comment about the challenge without mentioning the incorrect nomenclature of the Reliants, Robin, Regal or otherwise.
My donation is on it's way to http://www.justgivin
g.com/RobinReliantCh
allenge
wobbley-bob says...
10:57am Mon 10 Sep 12
Does the numpty who wrote this drive around in a Focus Ford, or a Micra Nissan?
.
Sort it out!