A team of fundraisers have set off on an epic journey that will see them cover over 1,000 miles to raise fund for the Cystic Fibrosis Centre, Ward 26 at Heartlands Hospital.

The team are driving a fleet of classic cars along the North Coast 500 route, with lots of stops along the way including climbing Ben Nevis. The group, known as the CF500 Team, will be arriving in John O’ Groats, before making their way back to the Midlands next Sunday.

The team are led by Peter Bevington and Carl Beasley, who have a special reason to fundraise for the ward. Peter’s step-daughter, Nikita, sadly passed away on the ward two years ago.

Peter said: “Nikita was born with Cystic Fibrosis and through her life it got progressively worse. As she grew up, she started receiving treatment at Heartlands Hospital and spent a lot of her time here on Ward 26.

“She was 26 when she passed away but she had lived her life to the full, she’d done everything that she could do including holidays abroad.”

The team have already raised an incredible £4,000 for the ward, and hope to raise even more. Carl said: “We’ve been amazed with the amount of donations that have come in so far, we’d love to raise £15,000 which is what it will cost to renovate the rooms on the ward.”

This is not the first time that Carl and Peter are taking on a fundraising challenge. Two years ago, the pair rode motorbikes from Lands’ End to John O’ Groats, raising £10,000 for three charities.

It was whilst they were on this fundraising journey that Nikita passed away. John said: “It was two days after her 26th birthday and we had just got to John O’ Groats and we got the call. The sun was setting over the Orkney Islands, the moon was on the other side and there was a rainbow behind us.

“It was a really meaningful moment. It was almost like she was holding on for us to complete the journey.”

Yesterday marked two years since Nikita passed away, and today the team set off on the first leg of their journey to Scotland.

In total, 12 classic cars will join the team on their journey and the team are hoping to make a massive difference to the ward. John said: “Whatever we put in will make a massive difference. Nikita spent a lot of her time here and passed away here, so we want to make it as comfortable as possible for other Cystic Fibrosis patients.”

Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands Hospital Charity, said: “A huge good luck goes to Peter, Carl and the whole CF500 team on their epic car journey. They’ve raised a fantastic amount of money already and I’m sure that their story will inspire even more donations.

“The money that they raise will help Heartlands Hospital Charity to refurbish rooms on the ward, making them as comfortable as possible for the patients who are treated there and who often spend a lot of time on the ward.”

Follow the team’s journey at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/831501410300686/

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