A team of charity adventurers are driving from Andreas to Athens, thanks to a helping start from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
Team Mad Manx is undertaking the challenge to raise awareness for The Children’s Centre Isle of Man and Manx Children’s Art Therapy (formerly known as The Teapot Trust).
They set off from the Isle of Man on Saturday, with a plan to drive two neon fur-covered ‘old bangers’ all the way to Greece, looking to raise a minimum of £2,000 as they go.
Previous charity adventures have seen the friends travel to India by rickshaw in 2016 and to Mongolia three years ago in the Mongol Rally, when they drove a Toyota Starlet 12,000 miles.
Fern Callister from Team Mad Manx said: ‘We have had some incredible adventures and can’t wait to see what this challenge brings. We aim to take in 17 countries on the way to Athens, wild camping as we go, and while the destination this time around might not be quite so remote, navigating our way through this post-Covid world is likely to be anything but plain sailing. We have a couple of 20-year-old cars, which were gifted to us for the price of a couple of bottles of wine, and we are all set for three weeks of pure driving discomfort before we reach the Acropolis!
‘Our sincere thanks to the Steam Packet Company for once again supporting our endeavours by covering the cost of our travel between the Isle of Man and England, ensuring that at least the first leg of our adventure should run smoothly.’
The team’s previous adventure to India was the focus of a feature-length documentary film, which is available on YouTube, where it has racked up more than 12,000 views having been first screened in May 2021 at Peel Centenary Centre. The friends will be recording their travels to Greece with a view to making another documentary.
Isle of Man Steam Packet Company Managing Director Brian Thomson added: ‘It is our pleasure to once again collaborate with Team Mad Manx and support their intrepid adventures.
‘They have done so much for charities in recent years, but they are also raising the profile of the Isle of Man and are terrific ambassadors for the Island. We wish them all the best on the challenge and, once completed, to welcoming them back on board for the final leg of their journey home.’
You can follow the adventures of Team Mad Manx on social media – search Team Mad Manx on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
To sponsor the team, visit their crowdfunding site at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/teammadmanx
