Classic car enthusiast drives from Chelmsford to Cornwall for charity

Trevor Fleuty, a member of the Essex Austin Seven Club (EA7) is taking on the ‘Quest for Pearl’ challenge on Sunday the 24th of April in memory of his dear friend Pearl Bonner, who was cared for by Farleigh Hospice at the end of her life.

Trevor, a long distance lorry driver, will be driving from Farleigh Hospice in Chelmsford to the Cornwall Gold Centre in Redruth to collect a pearl which has been kindly donated to Farleigh for auction to raise money for the hospice.

Trevor and the team will cover 100 miles per day and will arrive back to present the pearl to Farleigh’s Fundraising Manager, Debbie de Boltz on Saturday the 30th of April. The pearl will then be auctioned off at one of the hospice’s future fundraising events. To date, Trevor has raised over £2000 for the hospice, via his fundraising page.

Trevor met Pearl through the world of Austin Sevens, she was a very special person to him and had a positive impact on his life. He says: “Pearl was a lady that always put a smile on your face, always made you feel welcome and most of all inspired you to do things you didn’t know you could do! This was most definitely seen in her hard work, both at Great Baddow High School and as joint editor of our club magazine for which Pearl inspired me to write articles and has given me the confidence to organise this event in her memory.”

Trevor’s co-driver and navigator on the challenge is Pearl’s husband, Terry Bonner. Two other members of the Essex Austin Seven Club, Hazel and Albert Clements will be following Trevor in the support vehicle and trailer for the whole journey.

Farleigh Hospice Fundraising Manager, Debbie de Boltz said: “We are so grateful to Trevor and his team for taking on such a mammoth challenge to raise money for the hospice. The money raised will help us to provide care and support to more people like Pearl in our local community who are affected by life-limiting illness and bereavement. We couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of fundraisers like Trevor and we will be rooting for the team all the way. I’m sure Pearl will be watching over them on their journey too.”

The quest will start from Farleigh Hospice where 20 members of the Essex Austin Seven club will meet to drive in convoy with Trevor on the first leg of his journey, taking him as far as the Dartford Crossing.

As the car averages a speed of 30-40mph, the journey will be via the back roads to Cornwall rather than using motorways. Along the way, Austin sevens clubs from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall will be joining Trevor in convoy and accompanying him for that leg of the journey.

Four local companies are sponsoring the event; Wedge Galvanising Steel at Witham who are sponsoring the fuel for Trevor’s Austin Seven and the support vehicle, Reprohouse printing who have produced the trailer board printing for vehicles and Preston’s Garage in Writtle who are supplying the Ssang Yong support vehicle to pull the trailer and GK’s Graphics who have printed signs for “Bluebell and supported with promotion of The Quest.

For more information visit questforpearl.com