Eleven cars have set their sights on completing the Undy 500 North Coast Challenge in support of The Blossom Appeal– to build a new Breast Care Centre at Ipswich Hospital. They have set their sights high and aim to raise £20,000.

 The Undy 500 is the brainchild of Steve Flory of Hudson Group, Ipswich. To enter the “Top Gear” style challenge, cars had to be purchased for £500 or less. Fifteen cars have registered, each with two drivers to share the workload along the way. Setting off from Ipswich, the cars will drive to Edinburgh then around the north coast of Scotland covering over 1600 miles from Saturday 9 October and returning to Ipswich on Friday 15 October 2021. All the cars are branded with The Blossom Appeal logo, so look out for them around town!

 

The Undy 500 North Coast route

DAY 1 – Saturday 9th October – Ipswich to Edinburgh

DAY 2 – Sunday 10th October – Edinburgh to Inverness toWick

DAY 3 – Monday 11th October – Wick to Tongue (taking in John O’Groats)

DAY 4 – Tuesday 12th October – Tongue to Ullapool

DAY 5 – Wednesday 13th October – Ullapool to Torridon

DAY 6 – Thursday 14th October – Torridon to Inverness to Perth (completion of the North Coast 500)

DAY 7 – Friday 15th October – Perth to Ipswich

Steve was inspired to do the challenge by the story of Lisa Lewis who he has asked to become the Undy 500 mascot.

Lisa said: “I was really pleased to receive a message from Steve asking me to consider being the team mascot for the Undy500 Challenge. Steve and many of the Undy 500 team have been suppliers and friends of our business and family for a long time and their support through this awful time has been amazing, so I am so pleased to be involved and to return that kindness.

 “The Blossom Appeal is a cause that is really close to my heart. Earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy with reconstruction, something that came out of the blue to me and my family.

 “It is an incredibly scary and stressful time when it happens, part of that is going to different buildings and areas for diagnosis, operations and pre/post treatment. The new centre will bring together all elements of breast care under one roof for the first time. That will really help reduce people’s anxiety and will save time too.

 “I’m so pleased and humbled to be the team mascot, and hopefully my story will help to encourage people to give what they can afford to help in the final push to get this project completed.

 “I am very lucky to have received a clean bill of health and to class myself as a cancer survivor. Many others will have an even more difficult journey and will need that support.”

 Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity launched The Blossom Appeal in October 2017. Currently patients have to visit various areas of the hospital for different aspects of their care and treatment. The new £5.3m integrated unit will bring all breast care services together – the breast clinic, the imaging department and breast screening – making visits easier for patients and their families when going through a journey like Lisa’s.