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The GOSH Charity Driving Challenge launches in London's Trafalgar Square

Motoring presenters, Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson, were joined by Shannon Drury (aged five), a car fanatic and patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) to launch the GOSH Charity Driving Challenge on Tuesday, 16 September, in Trafalgar Square. The presenters arrived in a red 1966 Jaguar MK2 MOD from the Classic Car Club to launch the event.

Shannon has been a patient at GOSH since November of last year and is being treated for a Primative Neuro-Ectodermal Tumour (PNET). The five-year-old from Thamesmead dreams of riding in a Ferrari and marrying Michael Schumacher, and recently had the chance of a lifetime to watch the British Grand Prix and meet some of the stars of Formula One at Silverstone, thanks to Bernie Ecclestone’s generosity.

The challenge, formally known as the Beaujolais run, is taking place from 18-20 November and aims to raise £40,000 for GOSH. Car enthusiasts, wine buffs and those with a 'spirit of adventure' are invited to drive through the night from Brands Hatch in Kent to Mâcon in the Beaujolais region of France. It is test of navigation rather than speed: teams must cross a number of secret checkpoints and reach the finish line with the lowest mileage to win the coveted trophy.

Patron of the GOSH Charity Driving Challenge, Tiff Needell, said: “I’m thrilled to be the patron of the GOSHCC driving challenge because it is a wonderful event which has been running for over 30 years and continues to go from strength to strength. The more popular the challenge becomes, the more money is raised for a fantastic cause, which is why I decided to get involved. Great Ormond Street Hospital is a profoundly important asset, not only to families in London, but throughout Britain.”

The Hospital:

Every year Great Ormond Street Hospital cares for over 90,000 children from all over the country and abroad. Our mission is to improve the health of these children by being a world-class centre for paediatric care, research, training and education, offering the widest range of paediatric specialities under one roof. Your support will enable us to maintain our highly specialised services and help even more children get better.

To take part:

For your entry form please call Kate Goldman on 020 7916 5678 or email [email protected]. The closing date for entries is October 17. The event costs £500 for a team of two and any additional passengers are £250 each. Each team is asked to raise £1,000 which will go towards the building of a new patient hotel.