Friends complete 200-mile coast to coast drive in a tuk tuk for dementia charity

Chris Bee, from Dunston and Rick Martin from Billinghay came up with the crazy plan to ride one of the iconic Asian modes of transport the 200 miles between the resorts of Skegness and Blackpool starting at 10am on Friday, May 22 and rolling into the Golden Mile at Blackpool at 3pm on Sunday May 24.

Field engineer Chris, 42, explained they were inspired to do something for charity as his 66-year-old mum has been living with dementia in Toray Pines care home in Coningsby

Race Against Dementia exists to accelerate the search for a cure for dementia. Founded by Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart after his wife Helen’s diagnosis, it funds pioneering research and collaboration to speed up cures for the condition.

Chris explained: "We did a soapbox race in Lincoln a couple of years ago and my wife Lisa and I did a Race Against Dementia run around Silverstone. Then I went to Sri Lanka on holiday last year and my two boys said, ‘let’s buy a tuk tuk’ and that’s where I got the idea to raise money. I bought the tuk tuk off a guy in Northampton who imported it from India two years ago.”

The ‘Tuk-It Tour' was a family affair, with sons Max, nine, and Will, seven, joining them on board, doing speeds of no more than 30mph! Rick and Chris took turns driving while Lisa followed in a support van carrying spare parts.

They made a special stop at Toray Pines on the way to take Chris’s mum, Tina, for a spin too.

Chris commented: “The weather was stunning throughout. The tuk tuk struggled a little on the hills over the Peaks and we were close to running out of fuel at one point.

"The tram lines in Manchester took a bit of negotiating but everything went well.

"A big thankyou to my wife and kids, and best mate Rick for taking on the challenge with me. Also RNLI Skegness and Blackpool were amazing allowing us to have start and finishing points.”

But he added: “The biggest thankyou needs to go to everyone who has donated and followed us along the journey. Without that support we wouldn't have a current total raised of £14,000 plus gift aid!”

The Justgiving page is still open for anyone who still wants to give at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tuk-it-tour