Thanks for your support!

On behalf of the Trustees and Beneficiaries of Dive Ability, we want to say thank you for your support which raised a grand total of £3,874.27, including gift aid donations! Well in excess of our £3,000 target.

Thank you to everyone for the support and we hope you enjoy a sample of some of the photos in the gallery above.

As with all good stories, it began in the pub...

We started discussing a trip abroad, one thing led to another, which ended with two lawyers and the Head of Risk and Compliance (who didn't read all the details getting a bit carried away with his credit card) booking a place on the grid for the 2022 Monte Carlo Banger Rally.

Promoted as Europe's ultimate Banger Rally we start from London and finish in Monte Carlo via 7 countries, across 4 days and over 1000 miles - in a car costing less than £500. If the car makes it, we will take the scenic route visiting the Black Forest, Lake Como, Monza racetrack and the world-famous Gotthard pass.

What has this got to do with Dive Ability?

The organisers encourage participants to obtain sponsorship and raise money for good causes. Having initially looked over the details, two of the intrepid (or stupid) participants are members/volunteers of Dive Ability and hope to raise awareness and donations to support the charity with a scuba themed banger entrant.

With that decided, a vote was called and the team name Octopussies chosen.

What impact does your donation have?

Dive Ability is a member led scuba diving charity committed to enabling people who have disabilities and disadvantages to discover the adventurous world of scuba diving. Through regular educational pool sessions and dive holidays the charity relies on specialist volunteers and equipment to continue "breaking barriers with bubbles".

The charity is made up entirely of volunteers and is regulated by the Charity Commission. Your donation will be used to maintain equipment for our beneficiary's enjoyment and hopefully extend Dive Ability's ability to support more people with disabilities both physical and mental.

Conclusion

After over 1,000 miles across 7 countries Betty (our affectionately named Polo) made it to Monte Carlo safe and sound (the same cannot be said for the flies impaled by our rooftop mascot). She became a celebrity throughout Europe on her travels and received a lot of interest from the locals and continental police - mostly good natured.

As it turns out, Monégasque police considered her to be a threat to national security. You will have to ask one of the drivers for the full story...

She survived the Gotthard Pass, where others overheated. Drove for over 11 hours in one day almost constantly, without fault. Lapped the Monaco Grand Prix circuit where, admittedly, directions had to be asked for and for the first time in (unconfirmed) racing history, the handbrake was applied mid-lap and not for a turn but a pedestrian crossing.

Then having made it to Monte Carlo, not satisfied with the achievement, she drove another 1,000 miles back to the UK. She racked up 5% of her total milage of 27 years, in 6 days.

But above all else, she put a smile on the face of all who saw her (notwithstanding the Monaco Police) and raised a fantastic amount of money for a wonderful charity.

Thanks again for all the support.

Our Supporters with hyperlinks to their website highlighted in Blue:

Dive Ability - Charity proceeds will be donated here.

Fast Signs - Sign writers and branding - who generously donated graphics for our car.

Aquanaut Dive Shop - Kingston based scuba diving shop who assist Dive Ability without their support we could not operate.

Hen and Chicken Pub - Dive Ability social club meeting 1st Saturday of each month. Details on the Dive Ability website.

Nam Yang Martial Arts - Martial Arts School in Epsom Surrey who provided a generous donation.

Ash and Lacy Construction - Fabricator - who designed and built the metal sheets to support our roof wheelchair free of charge.