Father and son team, Philip and Will Churchill, sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins, have doubled their original fundraising target as part of their 'Vantage World Tour', in support of suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably.
Despite narrowly missing out on their Vantage World Tour target for 2023 of reaching Panama City, the team have doubled their original 2023 target fundraise from £7,500 to £15,000.
As part of the latest leg of their challenge to drive around the world, they returned to their Aston Martin Vantage at the end of October, which had been stored in Cancun, Mexico since Easter.
Negotiating a route through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, they were thwarted by the closing of the border into Panama, a reaction by the authorities to the road blocks and civil unrest in the country.
In the UK,125 lives are lost every week to suicide, with 75% of them male. With suicide the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK,CALM exists to reduce the number of male suicides by provoking conversation, running life-saving services, and bringing people together and help them get help when they need it.
Philip Churchill, Managing Partner at real estate investment manager, 90 North, commented:
“We had a terrific time driving through Central America, and while we are a little disappointed not to reach our intended target for this year, we have still driven a third of the way around the world this year and are immensely proud of what we have achieved.”
Returning to the United Kingdom on the eve of Will Churchill’s 18th birthday, he commented:
“We will be back in 2024 to try for Panama again, and then ship the car to Colombia to take on South America. The amazing reactions from the people we met along the way kept us going, as well as the support of those following us on social media.”
William Clements, Real Estate Partner at Trowers & Hamlins, added:
"Phil and Will should be immensely proud of their efforts in 2023. Not only have they embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, but more importantly they have raised much needed funds for CALM. The charity does crucial work helping support those in need and helping to break a number of stigmas surrounding men and mental health."
Having driven more than 8,000 road miles, across 8 countries in the 8 months since the end of February, Phil and Will are asking donations of £8 to CALM, through the fundraising link www.justgiving.com/vantageworldtour.
