Vans are most often connected with relentless and unglamorous hard work – but there are exceptions. Two heart-warming stories involving vans popped into my inbox today, so I thought I’d share them with you.
Swans In Transit
First up is Ford dealer Allen Ford of Bath, which has lent a long wheelbase, high roof Transit to event organiser Megan Witty, who is running the ‘Swans of Wells 2012’ public art initiative this summer, which is being run in celebration of the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
The initiative will see the 5ft tall swans, each individually decorated by local artists, sited around Wells between the end of May and September. Each of the 60 swans will be sponsored by local businesses.
Organiser Megan Witty explains the logistical challenges involved:
“All the swans have to be delivered to the individual artists, then collected and distributed around the city, and moved here, there and everywhere during the summer,” she said. “We were desperate for a suitably sized van and so very grateful that Allen Ford has been able to help.”
Allen Ford business manager Gary Milkins said the Bath dealer was happy to assist: “We loaned a Transit when Megan staged a similar event two years ago – the Lions of Bath – and it was a roaring success, attracting tourists to the city and raising money for local charities. It is great to be able to help once again.”
On 22 May the swans will make their first public appearance in Wells, along the route the Olympic torch will take through the city. They will then go on general display at sites across Wells from 28 May before being auctioned for charity on 29 September. The similar Lions of Bath 2010 event raised £65,000 for good causes.
Find out more at www.swansofwells.com
Transporter Does ’92 In 92′
A Volkswagen Transporter will carry Tim Spencer and his team to all 92 football league clubs in 92 hours!
Football fan Tim Spencer from Dorset was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure four years ago. He’s hoping to receive a kidney transplant later this year and is battling to help others with the disease by attempting to raise £25,000 for national charity Kidney Research UK, the UK’s leading kidney disease charity.
As a keen football fan, Tim hit on the idea of visiting all 92 football league clubs in 92 hours – a journey of 2,200 miles around the UK. For a football fan, this could be the ultimate road trip – so what better vehicle to travel in than a Volkswagen Transporter, kindly leant to him by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK.
Due to his current health, Tim will be undertaking the challenge with the help of a small team of friends, and will be setting off on Wednesday 18 April from Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park stadium and travelling across the UK before finishing at AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Court on Saturday 21 April.
Tim’s itinerary is available at support.kidneyresearchuk.org/support-us/92in92, plus there will be regular updates via Twitter (#92in92). In addition, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will also be inviting people to join in some fun challenges on its Facebook page during Tim’s journey with the chance to win a pair of football tickets. Full details will be posted at www.facebook.com/VolkswagenCommercialVehiclesUK.
To raise more funds, the challenge also includes two competitions to win an England football T-shirt signed by former England goalkeeper, Peter Shilton. Full details are available by visiting www.kidneyresearchuk.org/92in92. Anyone who would like to support Tim directly can also make a donation at www.justgiving.com/doingthe92in92.
Joe Chettleburgh, Director of Community Giving at Kidney Research UK, said:
“With three million people in the UK at risk of kidney disease, we’re extremely grateful to Tim for the lengths to which he is going to raise money for Kidney Research UK. It’s going to be a tough challenge for him so we are especially grateful to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for supplying a high quality van for his long and tiring journey.”
vanrental.co.uk wishes Tim and everyone else involved in ’92 in 92′ the best of luck.