Challenge Sponsors The following companies have donated money, time or resources for the Lykamobile Challenge.
PRESS CUTTING
Steam-powered car reaches Land's End
Western Morning News
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Charity fundraisers Dean Rogers and Steve Baldock finally completed their 1,100-mile journey from John O'Groats to Land's End.
The duo, who hope to raise £7,000 for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People once donations have been collected, finished their 14-day pilgrimage on Sunday, after averaging 10mph in their Lykamobile.
The vehicle is based on the locomobiles of the early 1900s, and needed to take on extra water every hour during the journey, which saw the duo drive for 12 hours every day. Mr Rogers and Mr Baldock, from Northamptonshire and Poole in Dorset respectively, arrived at Land's End half an hour ahead of schedule, where they were welcomed by the Mayor of Penzance, Coun Roy Mann. They were joined for much of the journey by friend Tony Batten, who drove a support car ahead of the duo.
Mr Rogers said: "Although we broke down a fair few times, there were no mechanical problems, and it was the copper piping that needed to be fixed, not the engine or the boiler, so it was a great achievement.
"It was also a great achievement in raising awareness of Hearing Dogs, as lots of people found out about the charity. We met 20 deaf people with hearing dogs on the journey who were so grateful for what we were doing.
"It was very motivating to see how passionate they are about how their hearing dogs have changed their lives so much. It kept us going through the hard times, like when we broke down and when we got soaked for entire days in heavy rain."
The duo were also given a hero's welcome in Lifton, West Devon, on Friday, and a bottle of champagne upon arriving in St Agnes, on Cornwall's north coast.
Hannah Phillips, national events coordinator for Hearing Dogs, said: "Dean and Steve have done a brilliant job of raising awareness and funds for the charity. They have certainly caused a lot of interest."
