Member Article

Engineer takes on Monte Carlo challenge for charity

A civil engineer from Durham is set to embark on a European adventure to raise money for a children’s hospital.

Joe Brain, who works for North East construction specialist Owen Pugh, is taking on the Monte Carlo Or Bust Banger Rally Adventure which will see him go on a fun-filled journey from London to Monte Carlo with three friends – Peter Knowles, Andrew Philpott and James Pringle – in a £300 Skoda Octavia.

On route he will get to view spectacular settings across Europe while facing a series of unknown challenges as he battles with up to 80 other teams to win the competition. The four-day journey will take in London, Saint-Quentin, Dijon, and Turin before ending in Monte Carlo on July 19.

Joe and his team bought the Skoda – formerly part of Owen Pugh’s car fleet – for a cut-price £300 and his employer is supporting the initiative by donating cash to the cause. The money will be given to The Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle to support children with arthritis.

Joe says: “The hospital does a lot of good work to support kids who suffer with arthritis so any money I raise will be going to a great cause. I’ve set a target of £250 but I want to exceed that. Anyone who wants to donate money can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/MCOB-ChampagneCharlie.

“I’ve never done anything quite like this and, given that I don’t know what the challenges are, I’m not really sure what to expect! All I know is that we’ll have a lot of fun on the way and I’d like to thank my employer for supporting me.”

John Dickson, chairman of the Owen Pugh Group, said: “It’s great to see Joe and his friends doing something that will benefit the hospital, which is one of only 14 major children’s medical centres in the UK. We are happy to support local causes and give something back to the local community in which we operate.”

Owen Pugh has a history of donating money to worthy causes. Recently the company pledged £30,000 to the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, which will distribute the cash to charitable organisations throughout the next 12 months.

Organisations set to benefit include long-term beneficiaries Phoenix Detached Youth Project (PDYP), which works with young people in the Meadowell and Chirton areas of North Shields, and Liberdade, an organisation that provides arts and health initiatives for disabled people across Tyne and Wear.

To find out more about the Owen Pugh Group visit www.owenpugh.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Narrative Integrated Communications .