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Chatteris fundraisers Dan and Dave set off on nine week, 12,500 mile adventure to Tokyo and hope to raise £1,000s for Children in Need along the way




Intrepid fundraisers Dan Handley and Dave Brooks were given a massive send-off as they started their 12,500 mile drive from Chatteris to Tokyo yesterday (Sunday).

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need....Dan Handley and Dave Brooks. (3555603)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need....Dan Handley and Dave Brooks. (3555603)

The friends, who work at Toyota specialists Fensport Performance, set off from the firm's premises in Dock Road with the best wishes of their family and friends still ringing in their ears.

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need..left to right Dan Handley and Dave Brooks. (3555596)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need..left to right Dan Handley and Dave Brooks. (3555596)

They were waved off by their relatives, co-workers and friends, from a special 'bon voyage' barbecue at lunchtime on Sunday for the start of their mega journey, which will see them travel through 20 countries to reach their Japanese destination.

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555611)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555611)

They will travel on inhospitable roads and gruelling terrain, passing through countries such as France, Austria, Switzerland and Bulgaria and others whose names turn up as quiz show answers – Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan – through Mongolia, Russia, South Korea and Tokyo.

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555619)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555619)

And they will be doing it all in a specially adapted 16-year-old Toyota Yaris, which cost just £1,000 off eBay.

Dan Handley and Dave Brooks both with their sisters before travelling to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need...left Geogia Handley and Heidi Brooks. (3555615)
Dan Handley and Dave Brooks both with their sisters before travelling to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need...left Geogia Handley and Heidi Brooks. (3555615)

Fortunately the pair have plenty of experience of fixing Toyotas and they're hoping the elderly five-door model will take them all the way.

Dan Handley with his nephew Jack Cook 7 months before travelling to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need.. (3555613)
Dan Handley with his nephew Jack Cook 7 months before travelling to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need.. (3555613)

They will be camping for the majority of the trip, which they expect to complete in nine weeks, arriving in Tokyo, if all goes well on October 5.

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555622)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555622)

They will then spend a week exploring Japan before flying home. The car will return to the UK in a container thanks to the generosity of one of the trip's sponsors.

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555623)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555623)

The car has on-board Slingshot 6 which means the daring duo will have 4G wi-fi so will be able to keep everyone updated with a blog and there is also a tracker fitted so people can follow their progress online.

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555625)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555625)

It has taken the pair over a year to plan and to get all the necessary visas in place for the various countries they pass through.

Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555627)
Dan and Dave leaving Chatteris to travel to Tokyo in a 2002 Toyota for Children in Need. (3555627)

They hope their spirit of adventure and one-off feat will help raise bumper sums for the BBC Children in Need appeal. They have earned sponsorship for all the trip's costs, so any money donated will go to the charity.

More details about their trip and details of how to contribute to their fund-raising can be found on their website here: www.chatteris2tokyo.com where you can also follow their journey.



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