What’s in a name - “L’AimeDucks”

[laimeduck]

A bit of fun for two charities

 

Since 2008 the L’AimeDucks have done an annual banger rally to raise money for 2 charities: Parkinson’s UK & The Lymphoma Trust. The team, myself, Mickey & Chris, have known each other since school days - about 50 years ago! Chris has suffered from Parkinson’s for about 8 years now.

- so far we have raised about £5000

 

In just over two weeks time we are off on our next rally “The Great Escape”

The rally is for cars costing ~ £200 and takes in Antwerp, Leipzig, Colditz, Zagan (Stalag Luft III), Dresden, Munich & Berchtesgaden - all in 3 days. The round trip is about 2000 miles if the cars make it!

 

The Rally is loosely based on the film "The Great Escape" the RAF POW breakout from Stalag Luft III

The idea is to decorate the cars - usually based on the rally theme, then travel to the designated towns while doing quizzes or treasure hunt-like challenges - usually while dressed up in some form of fancy dress. There are various prizes for quizzes etc & the winners are voted for by the other teams so there is a smattering of democracy about the whole thing!

 

Our car this year is "Sigrid" - a 1991 Saab 9000 2.3 CDi Auto which cost £200. She has been “transformed” to look like a Spitfire (with huge apologies to R J Mitchell!)

 

We try to do a daily blog of our efforts which you can follow on:

http://laimeducksgreatescape.blogspot.com/

 

If anyone would like to donate to our two charities then the links are on the blog site

 

To get a flavour of what we get up to, here are the links to some of the blogs with pictures, from previous rallies :-

Mission Impossible : http://laimeducks.blogspot.com/

Allo’Allo: http://laimeducksalloallo.blogspot.com/

Grand Prix: http://laimeducksgrandprix.blogspot.com/

Wish us luck!

Picture of Sigrid partially transformed - she will have wings & a fin next - see blog for developing transformation once the rally has started.

[antony1969]

Good look with the trip and well done for raising the £s

[aultymer]

Great to hear about people 'doing their bit'.

.

I just hope those nasty Jerries don't respond to your Spitfire like they did before!

 

Can I suggest you miss out places like Koln, Hamburg and Dresden where some are still a bit touchy about the last visit from planes in camouflage.

 

Good luck in your travels.

[Guest pelmetman]

Judging by the pictures on your blogs Jeremy, you are doing wonders for enhancing Johnny Foreigners opinion of an Englishman abroad:D

Must be why they edge away when we turn up8-)

Have a good trip:-D

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[Guest Tracker]

I too am far from convinced that harping back to the war is such a wonderful idea as far as respect for the peoples of the countries you pass though is concerned - but the trips themselves sound like great fun and do have a huge appeal to my warped sense of fun!

[laimeduck]

Fear not! We do not offend.

 

The cars are only in their full regalia in the mornings between about 08.00 & 09.00 when the teams meet up for the daily briefings - usually in an out of the way centre commercial carpark.

Our experience to date is that the locals have been tremendously supportive. We are sensitive to their potential feelings.

 

Eg

Imagine the main carpark in the small hamlet of Churwalden Switzerland (near Chur), invaded by about 120 people all dressed up as "Village People" "Batman & Robin" or a 6'7" chap with a beard dressed up as "Heidi"! (he was dressed like this for the full 3 days!) see pictures on the blog http://laimeducks.blogspot.com/

 

They were so intrigued & enthusiastic they begged us to return next time the Mission Impossible rally was run!

 

 

[laimeduck]

Well - we leave tomorrow Weds 14th & get an early Chunnel on Thursday 15th.

 

To date we have raised about £6000 for Lymphoma & Parkinson's with over £700 for this rally.

 

Follow us on http://laimeducksgreatescape.blogspot.com/