AN intrepid team of Lewdown residents are setting off on the ‘Banger Rally Challenge’ on Saturday, September 28 to raise money for Devon Air Ambulance and Marie Curie.

The Banger Rally Challenge set up in 2011 was created with the aim of having fun, seeing Europe and, most importantly, raising money for deserving charities.

This year local team Foxcombe 5-0, consisting of Matt Spooncer, Peter Morris, Malcolm Hones and Sharon O’Brien, will head to Pompeii and take part, not only in the drive itself, but in daily challenges set to win extra prizes.

One of the prizes is for the best decorated car and Foxcombe 5-0 decided on a Hawaiian theme with the team name as a combination of their favourite TV series Hawaii 5-0 and the strong connection to Foxcombe Bakehouse all the members have.

They are decorating an old Volvo estate with surfboards, a surfer, sharks and all things Hawaiian and will be dressing up in Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts ready to start their journey alongside 150 other teams.

The challenges and the route is unknown, only presented to the teams each evening for the following day, but hopefully there will be some time during the 2,000 mile round trip to get some sightseeing in.

Of course the team will have lots of fun along the way; however, the main aim of the rally is to raise money for charity. Foxcombe 5-0 will be supporting the Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance and the Marie Curie trust.

Each of the team members has experienced, in some way, the services these charities provide, whether using the services themselves or seeing the help and support given to close friends and families and they all feel passionately that these vital charities must be kept running for years to come.

Their aim is to raise more than £3,113 — £3000, plus their team number. All the costs for entering will be borne by the team members and so any sponsorship will go in full to the charities.

If you would like to donate, visit the Virgin Giving page www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Foxcombe50

If you enter your name it will be added to the ‘Hall of Fame’ and displayed on the car.