Drumbeg man drives ahead with tribute to friend
A DRUMBEG driving instructor is to drive from Lands Ends
to John O'Groats next month in memory of friend and colleague Margaret Adair
who died of cancer last year. David Johnston (52) and his business partner
Joe Weir from Carrickfergus, who are both driving instructors. hope to raise
£I000 by driving from the most northerly point in Scotland to the most
southerly in England to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The event
is being organised by the UK Driving Instructors Confederation. Adding the
drive from Belfast will mean covering a total of I800 miles in four days
Joe and David will be joined by other instructors from England, Scotland and Wales, who are doing it on behalf of other charities
David, who runs the Confidence School of Motoring, will set out on the challenge on Thursday, March I8.
He is taking part in the drive as a tribute to his friend Margaret (Mags) Adair who passed away last summer, six weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of just 49.
David had got to know Mags while she was a newspaper representative and he owned a newsagents in Carryduff. Ironically both became driving instructors. Shocked by her untimely and tragic death he decided to do something in her memory.
David recalls: "Margaret was such a lovely, vivacious and out going girl who loved to live life to the full. I was really shocked at how suddenly she was taken away."
When they heard about the driving challenge Joe and David decided to do it in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. They are hoping to cover all the costs for the journey through corporate sponsorship and will meet any shortfall themselves. David said: "We have been generously assisted by Charles Hurst Peugeot (Belfast) - who have loaned us a car and insurance etc for the event and www.kolorprint.com of Newtownabbey who have provided advertising literature. "We would also like to thank the committees of the two local driving instructor associations for their support in this challenge, DIANI who presented us with a cheque for £100 and raised a further £80 in a collection at their recent AGM and NIADIA who raised £90 in a collection at their AGM, and of course not forgetting individual local instructors who have donated.
"However, one area where we are struggling is in corporate sponsorship for ferry travel and fuel. Getting the car and two drivers across the Irish Sea is a major expense. Also the drive is liable to cost around £300 for fuel so if any readers can help it would be also much appreciated. The companies' logos will be displayed prominently on the car and on the two instructors training vehicles for a further year in return for covering these costs."
Anyone who are interested in supporting the event can do so at: www.justgiving.com/adilejog. Anyone who can help with corporate sponsorship can contact the David and Joe by emathenquiries@confidencedriving.com or through their office 90 605008.
Ulster Star
02/05/2010
