16/07/10...Scally Rally duo's drive in memory of Thame young people -
THE thought of driving almost 3000 miles in a car costing less than £500 may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but for Thame resident Peter Butt it was a challenge not to be missed.
The aim was to take part in a tribute event to the world famous Mille Miglia (1000 mile) event organised by local business, Scally Rally, starting from the prestigious Mille Miglia museum in Brescia in northern Italy on June 27.
Peter and team mate, Andrew Keen, made their way from Dover to Calais to meet up with 25 other teams for the start of their epic journey. From Calais, all teams made their way to Zurich and then across amazing Alpine mountain roads to Brescia to make the official start line. From there the route took in Ferrara and Rome before heading back to Brescia.
Peter and Andrew’s car was decorated with the Thame Youth Memorial logo, ensuring publicity across Europe.
Peter explained: "we bought our car several months before the rally, repaired the clutch and, with safety as our main priority, I decided to replace all the braking components. I approached Thame Service Station who were pleased to sponsor us in support of the Youth Memorial- providing all the parts needed.
"They gave the car a thorough inspection which left us confident that we would be able to complete the entire rally and return safely on July 01, and we are proud to say that our car did not miss a beat and with several other cars failing along the way, it’s great to know the work was worth it.”
The aim of Thame Youth Memorial is to provide both a memorial to those we lose too young and a place of reflection for those affected by the loss of a young person in their life.
“I lost a friend at the age of 15," explaned Peter, "and that loss at a young age can be destructive. You find yourself asking whether it’s worth working at anything when it can be taken away so suddenly.
"I found the best way to deal with the loss was to focus on the fact that my friend was unable to achieve the goals and dreams she had, and that I was lucky to have that opportunity. Having a place to reflect on lost friends or family is an important part of the grieving process.”
More information can be found at: www.thameyouthmemorial.org and donations to the Memorial fund are welcomed through the website.
