If you see two stretch limousines travelling through Welshpool tomorrow evening with blacked-out windows and flanked by motorcycle outriders, you can be forgiven for thinking that Her Majesty the Queen is back in town.
But in actual fact, the vehicles’ VIPs are a team of madcap lads celebrating a local firm’s 10th anniversary by undertaking a rally-with-a-difference across Europe to raise cash for charity.
Links Electrical Supplies has decided to mark its business milestone by tackling the outrageous Screwball Rally, a whacky event which has echoes of the infamous Cannonball Run films from the 1980’s.
And at 6pm tomorrow (Wednesday), the lads, clad in tuxedos, will embark on their long journey from the company’s Welshpool HQ in the pair of ‘luxury’ cars that cost them £300 a piece on EBAY!
“We decided to celebrate our anniversary by doing something a little different that would also raise money for good local causes so we have entered the Screwball Rally!” said company director Dave Poyner. “As you can probably gather by the price, the cars are not in the best of condition but we are more than confident that they will make it all round Europe and back to Welshpool without any trouble.”
The Screwball Rally is an annual fundraising event that raises money for local causes and the lads have decided that the Mid Wales Air Ambulance and Cancer Research will benefit from their efforts. The rally consists of a five-day route through France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany, and stipulates that entrants cannot spend more than £750 on their vehicle.
Dave will be joined by fellow Links Electrical Supplies directors Graeme Morgan and Alwyn Passant along with friends Elwyn Griffiths (Llanfair Ceareinion), Phil Jones (Garthmyl), Phil Wilson (Berriew) and Wayne Morgan (Llansantffraid). As a send off, four friends will be acting as motorcycle outriders to see the lads off as far as Telford.
Dave added: “So far we have raised in excess of £2500 through donations and a fundraising event held at Argae Hall Caravan Park in August where the venue was kindly donated by Phil Jones of Lakeside Golf Club and Argae Hall Caravan Park.”
And no wonder Dave and his colleagues are celebrating. The company has grown from one branch to six over the 10 years and employs more than 40 staff. But before any of them think their bosses might get stranded on the continent in their 'luxury' bangers, Dave pointed out: “We have taken out AA Breakdown cover just in case!”
To support the lads, either pay money direct at HSBC:
Account number : 61511300
Sort code : 40-46-07
Account name : Links Screwball rally
Or send to:
Links Electrical Supplies Ltd, 34-36 Mochdre Ind Est, Newtown, SY16 4LE