Driving from Scapa to Lands End. In a Tractor. At 15mph. For Alzheimers.

[Digger]

Apologies for this not having a huge amount to do with diving, but many of you will have driven to Scrabster, in your flash modern cars with air conditioning, a windscreen, comfortable seats, power steering, and will understand just how far it is.

A friend of mine is driving a vintage tractor from the Kirkwall in the Orkneys to Lands End. Unsupported. On an open seat. At an average of 15mph. To raise money for Alzheimers Research.

Now people often do sponsored this or that, have a cake sale, do a long walk, go through several hours of torture running a marathon. But he is going just a bit further than that. He is driving a tractor for several weeks, sleeping in a motorhome for most of the journey, including several days of driving through Scotland, dealing with whatever mechanical problems he might have, to raise money for other people.

His website is here: 'The Long Haul' tractor run for Alzheimer's Research

And his justgiving site is here. Michael Fishwick is fundraising for Alzheimer's Research UK - if you can spare a couple of pounds to support someone who has spared several weeks of whatever an English summer throws at him, that would be so well received you couldn't believe it. He can't believe how much support he has got already, we can't believe he is actually doing this!

This is him on his tractor trying to break in a new seat, you get the idea what it is going to be like driving through strong winds and rain on this thing, at 15mph...



If anyone is on the route and wants to support Michael by putting money in his bucket, you can see his route on the site. He will need a whole lot of moral support, as a quiet but determined person he really is the kind of guy we should all get right behind.

Also if anyone would like to sponsor Michael's tractor, we are currently looking for anyone who would like to make a larger donation to get their company logo or name put onto his tractor which will inevitably attract some media attention. Please PM me if interested and I can put you in touch with him. And please don't forget Gift Aid on any donations if you are a UK taxpayer.

Many Thanks,

Digs.

[Spirit of Guernsey]

MF120, nice.

[Stumo]

How does he get the tractor back once he's got to the far end? I hope he doesn't have to just turn round and head back up again!

[Digger]

How does he get the tractor back once he's got to the far end? I hope he doesn't have to just turn round and head back up again!

Luckily he has a very generous friend with a trailer to get him home. I suspect he will be asleep for a lot of that bit of the journey

Digs.

[Digger]

Monday morning bump - lots of greens and likes and things, but the needle has not moved on Michael's justgiving page.

Please feel free to chuck £1 or £2 in the pot, you can keep the amount anonymous if you like, he really is grateful for any donations and support of any size.

Note that he is investing a lot of his own money into this journey, as are many of his friends and family just to make it possible, which means every penny donated is going to help to try to prevent millions of people suffering with Alzheimers every year.

Digs.

[Digger]

Thought you might be interested now Mike is well underway. He has had a great welcome everywhere he has gone, and is now up to Alrewas.

I don't even know where that is. Update here: 'The Long Haul' tractor run for Alzheimer's Research UK | News and updates

He is still collecting, and has got to £6,700 so far. If you want to donate and support what he is doing you can do so very quickly and easily here: Michael Fishwick is fundraising for Alzheimer's Research UK

I still can't quite believe what he is doing, and how long it has taken!

Digs.