Jan (left) and Jo hope to raise £3,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK.

Suffolk pair plans 3,000-mile drive across Europe

Two friends from a veterinary practice in Suffolk are planning to drive thousands of miles across Europe in an old Mini for charity.

Vet, Jo Travers (33) and veterinary nurse, Jan Davies (35), who work at Ryder-Davies & Partners in Woodbridge, decided that they wanted to do something "completely different" to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK.

The adventure begins on 16 September and will see the pair travel across eight countries, covering 3,000-miles, in a 1972 Mini Cooper.

Jo's dad bought and restored the classic car when she was 16 so that she could learn to drive. It has since completed the London to Brighton marathon twice but now resides under a dust sheet in Jo's parent's garage.

In 2012, Jo's mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and now lives in a care home in Yaxley.

"It's been very hard and I want to do all I can to raise money to find a cure for this terrible condition," said Jo. "After a conversation in August when Jan reminded me about the Italian Job I thought that it was about time my Mini was released from the workshop and taken on a proper adventure."

Jo and Jan have already raised over £650 for Alzheimer's Research UK but hope to raise £3,000, £1 for every mile.

In May, they completed a 1,000-mile trial run to Cornwall and are now preparing for the main event.

To donate to the cause please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/3000milesinamini or for more information visit their blog at www.3000milesinamini.wordpress.com.

Image (C) Alzheimer's Research UK