Mendip Vintage & Classic Tour 2017 - raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support
Even
the showers didn't dampen spirits on the 23rd Mendip Vintage and Classic Tour on Sunday 14th May!
Over 160 vintage, classic and historic cars took part this year’s event,
sponsored by Estate Agent, Debbie Fortune, herself a vintage car owner, driver
and enthusiast.
The
route this year was around the northern region of Somerset, exploring wonderful
areas of outstanding beauty, many rich in history and legend, ending in grand
style for cream teas and the coveted awards, on Wells Cathedral Green
...whatever the weather!
Many
participants entered in the spirit of the occasion adopting period dress and
contributing to the atmosphere and joy of the event.
Debbie,
with her co driver, Julie, in authentic 50's costume, drove a 1950 Alvis TB14, one of only 15 surviving from the
100 originally built, and they kept going through the rain showers to arrive
safely on the green, very wet but very happy, just in time to present the trophies
with the Mayor of Wells, councillor Alison Gibson.
This
year's event was raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity very
close to Debbie's heart as both her eldest son, Ben, and her husband, Mark,
have suffered from the disease...Mark very recently.
She
says, 'Every day a staggering 21 people across Bristol, Bath, North Somerset
and Somerset hear the devastating news they have cancer, and every day 10
people die from the illness. Macmillan funds 222 professionals across our area,
including doctors, nurses, dieticians, family support workers, Boots Macmillan
information pharmacists, radiographers and beauty advisors, and in 2015 in
Somerset alone paid out over £66,000 in grants to people living with cancer.'
'It
was tremendous to see so many Macmillan volunteers collecting for such a worthy
cause and there was unqualified support from everyone for this wonderful
charity. I felt very privileged to be part of the day, which is one of the best
organised events we attend in our fund raising calendar. There are so many
people to thank ... but a special vote must go out to the army of volunteers
and marshalls who give up their free time to attend...to the hundreds of car
owners and enthusiasts who support the event and to the hundreds of spectators
both along the route and on the Green, and who gave so generously to Macmillan
Cancer Support.'
Roll
on 2018!