Lookers is helping a North East cancer charity expand across the UK after providing its fleet with 25 support vehicles.
We have been supplying the fleet of people carriers to charity Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care for seven years and have just supplied it with its 25th fleet vehicle, a Renault Traffic 9 seater passenger carrier.
The custom made vehicles, which are emblazoned with the signature Daft as a Brush logo and artwork, are used by the charity to transport outpatients, free of charge, to and from hospital for Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy cancer treatment.
Lookers has previously provided the charity with a number of different car brands, including a number of Nissan Notes and Nissan Primastars, and this time has provided a nine seater Renault Traffic passenger carrier.
The charity, which was famously founded by Brian Burnie, provides a free transport service to and from the Freeman and RVI Hospitals for outpatients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment – some from as far afield as the Scottish Borders, North Yorkshire and West Cumbria.
Every year, over 30,000 cancer patient journeys are made possible by the service, a number Brian wants to increase to 40,000 in 2018 as Daft as a Brush begins to establish itself nationally.
Matthew Eyres, Commercial Vehicle Development Manager at Lookers Corporate/Rosedale Leasing, said: “Daft as a Brush has become a household name in the North East and much of that has to do with the hard work of Brian and his dedicated team of volunteers. The iconic and instantly recognisable vehicles are also an important part of the success of the charity and here at Lookers we look forward to providing even more vehicles as it looks to expand across the UK.”
Lookers is also backing Brian Burnie as he prepares for an epic 7,000 mile, 2 year-long fundraising walk around the UK’s coastline. The walk will see Brian begin at Newcastle Quayside before walking anti-clockwise right around Great Britain and Ireland.
As well as visiting over 300 primary schools and a number of major cancer hospitals along the route, Brian aims to raise £2m for Daft as a Brush, £1m for the Great North Children’s Hospital and £1m for Parkinson’s Research.
It is hoped that the additional exposure and media attention will help Brian establish the charity beyond the North East.
Lookers is pledging our support by working with Nissan to provide a Nissan support vehicle which will follow Brian around the country and carry the essential equipment, food and water he’ll need to complete the arduous challenge.
Brian said: “I can’t wait to get going next year. It’ll be a tough challenge and is a long time to commit to, but I’m sure that the thought of reaching my fundraising targets will spur me on. The North East public has been hugely supportive of what we’re trying to do and I look forward to helping those across the country that could benefit from our service.
“I would also like to thank Lookers, which has been a huge supporter of ours over the years and will be by our side yet again as we embark on our coastal adventure.”
