Caithness trucking couple in charity marathon
A CAITHNESS couple are planning to "get their motor running" and "head out on the highway" next week to raise money for two local causes.
Local trucking enthusiasts Dan and Dolina Mackenzie are taking their American Peterbilt truck out on a long haul from Dunnet Head to John O’Groats before setting their sights on Land’s End.
Dolina explained that this will be the longest trip so far in the 10-wheeled behemoth – all to raise funds for the Thurso lifeboat and the local branch of Macmillan Cancer Support.
"Dan came up with this brilliant idea. He raised money at his birthday last year for the same two causes," said Dolina.
"He keeps getting these ideas... like we went to Canada on holiday and he bought a truck. Other people bring back souvenirs in their suitcase – ours took eight days to get here."
She added: "We just want to try and raise as much as possible for the two charities."
Two of the couple’s friends are driving their own trucks up from Cumbria to join them at the start, with another friend taking Dan’s Renault Magnum.
Dolina is hopeful of also roping in a few outriders to make the road run as spectacular as possible.
She said: "We’re hoping that others will join in on the way down, like the Harley Davidson riders from Caithness [the Last Chapter] will come with us so far down the road and then more riders from Newcastle are coming across to Cumbria."
The four-strong truck convoy will leave next Friday and hopes to be in Land’s End by Tuesday evening where the Sennen Cove Lifeboat crew members are laying on a barbecue.
It will be a quick pit stop for the couple, though, as they have to be back up to Scotland to make the annual gathering of trucks and large vehicles, Truckfest, at Ingliston near Edinburgh, taking place on August 6 to 7.
Local RNLI spokesperson David Brown revealed yesterday that the John O’Groats to Land’s End run had been given a boost after the winner of the raffle at the recent fair day, a "K.D." of Thurso, had graciously returned the top prize of £500 to the cause.
Mr Brown added that the committee, the lifeboat crew and everyone else involved are "incredibly grateful" to all those who have helped with their recent events and to those who have made a contribution whether big or small.
To make a donation to Dan and Dolina’s end-to-end challenge visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/DieselDan
