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[Rick]

A number of members of the International Jaguar XK Club and leading motoring journalists gathered at the impressive premises of pre-eminent classic car specialist Hexagon of Highgate in early May for the launch of this year's annual Round Britain Coastal Drive, supporting Prostate Cancer UK.

The brainchild of author, publisher and founder of the XK Club, Philip Porter, in three years the event has raised over £200,000. Owners of classic Jaguar sports cars have even travelled from the USA specially to take part.

“Our twin aims are to raise funds and awareness of this killer cancer,” states Porter, “and, thanks to a great team effort from our members, sponsors and friends in the media, we have made great progress. This event is a win-win, as it supports a vital cause and our members have fun driving round the ever-varying scenic roads of our beautiful country in their classic Jaguars.”

Among those attending the launch was Don Wales, a member of the famous Campbell record breaking dynasty and himself the Land Speed Record Holder for steam vehicles. Principal sponsor Julian Barratt of SNG Barratt, the leading classic Jaguar parts specialists, joined participants who have signed up for this year's event, which is now the fourth to be run around the coastal roads of England, Scotland and Wales.

Tracey Pritchard, Director of Engagement, at Prostate Cancer UK said:

“The launch event of this year's Round Britain Coastal Drive, was absolutely brilliant. The turnout of people taking part and supporting the Round Britain Coastal Drive, to help raise vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK, was truly wonderful. We would like to thank the Jaguar XK Club for making the event such a success and to everyone who came along”.

“We are also so grateful that any funds raised through our partnership with the Jaguar XK Club this year, will be match-funded, pound for pound, by an anonymous partner. This generous offer will go towards supporting our Specialist Nurse services, the UK’s only telephone, email and Live Chat support specific to prostate cancer, at Prostate Cancer UK”.

“Our Specialist Nurses are here for anyone living with or concerned about prostate cancer or prostate problems. There are over 400,000 men living with the disease in the UK, which means this service will continue to act as a lifeline for so many. We want to do all we can to help support men and their loved ones.”

Self-confessed ‘petrol-head’, Jonathan Cole, was at the launch event of this year's Round Britain Coastal Drive. He was inspired to take part in the Round Britain Coastal Drive in 2018, as he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer over two years ago, and he plans to take part again in the event this year.

Jonathan said: “After finding out the shocking news about my prostate cancer diagnosis, my aim is to raise as much awareness of this disease as possible. I will continue to encourage anyone to seek medical advice if they are concerned or have any symptoms which might indicate prostate problems.

“I have always enjoyed old cars and long journeys (having once driven from Minster to Mongolia) and thought I would combine this interest with raising funds for Prostate Cancer UK. I can’t wait to get on the road again and take on the 4,000-mile drive around the UK.”

Anyone interested in taking part can find more information on the event website, https://www.roundbritaincoastaldrive.co.uk/xk-club-round-britain-coastal-drive.html, or by phoning the International XK Club on 01584 781588. Membership of the XK Club brings many attractive benefits and costs little more than a tank of fuel.
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[Rick]

Fourth year of fundraising Round Britain Coastal Drive flags away this month.

What started off as a ‘one-off’ charity event in 2016 to raise funds for the charity Prostate Cancer UK, is now in its fourth year and has so far raised over £200,000. This year’s fundraising goal is £45,000 – to highlight the staggering statistic that one man dies every 45 minutes as a result of prostate cancer.

Philip Porter, author, publisher and co-founder of the International Jaguar XK Club devised the Round Britain Coastal Drive shortly after recovering from prostate cancer, and the event has become an excellent way to raise awareness of the disease, and funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

To mark the beginning of this year’s 3,400-mile drive around the circumference of the British mainland, Porter will be flagging away participants from the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu on Monday 16 September.

18 days later long-time Prostate Cancer UK supporter Don Wales will be dropping the flag on the final stage of the Round Britain Coastal Drive. Grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE, and nephew of Donald Campbell CBE, both Land and Water Speed record holders, Don himself holds World and UK Land Speed records. Don will join participants, organisers and Prostate Cancer UK representatives at a celebratory closing dinner.

Highlights of the Round Britain Coastal Drive in previous years have been special visits arranged by some stalwart supporters of the cause, and this year is no exception.

Stage 9 participants will enjoy a lunch at the Ben Nevis Distillery, kindly arranged and hosted by Jimmy Stewart of Classicfabs, Fort William.

Dunbeath Castle and Gardens in Caithness, Scotland are kindly opening their doors to drivers on Stage 11.

Down on the south coast, Club member Ian Turner is providing lunch and opening the doors to his workshop at Turner Classics in Ramsgate during Stage 17. Ian has the distinction of being the Drive’s only double all-rounder, having completed all 18 stages last year in his E-type, and doing the same again this year with his XK.

The end of Stage 17 offers the option to visit CKL Developments, near Hastings, who have kindly invited participants to browse their workshop and partake of a reviving afternoon tea or coffee.

Technical support on the Round Britain Coastal Drive is second to none. Renowned Jaguar parts specialists, SNG Barratt Group, will be supporting the event once again, with a vehicle full of spare parts. Technicians will provide assistance on all 18 stages, including CBR Classic Restorations of Walsall, respected specialists in classic restoration, body work and repairs and acknowledged Jaguar XK experts, Twyford Moors of Clanfield, Hampshire.

Participants will also be assisted throughout by event hosts from the XK Club and ambassadors from Prostate Cancer UK.

Appealing to all owners of XK-badged Jaguars, in the UK and further afield, to join some or all of the Round Britain Coastal Drive, Philip Porter said, “This is an enormously enjoyable way of driving your classic car, seeing fantastic scenery, socialising with like-minded enthusiasts, and raising money for a great cause.”

Gabriella Bailey, Head of Community Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The Round Britain Coastal Drive events are fantastic and have so far raised over £200,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, which is a tremendous amount. We are thrilled that Philip and his wife Julie have organised this event for the fourth year in a row, this time with XK-engined Jaguars.

“We are also so grateful that any funds raised through our partnership with the Jaguar XK Club this year, will be match-funded, pound for pound, by an anonymous partner. This generous offer will go towards supporting our Specialist Nurse services, the UK’s only telephone, email and Live Chat support specific to prostate cancer, at Prostate Cancer UK. Our Specialist Nurses are here for anyone living with or concerned about prostate cancer or prostate problems.

“There are over 400,000 men living with the disease in the UK, which means this service will continue to act as a lifeline for so many. By doubling the value, we are doubling the difference to the lives of men and their loved ones.”
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[Rick]

This year’s Round Britain Coastal Drive has successfully achieved its aim of increasing the amount raised by the event for Prostate Cancer UK to more than £250,000. This year’s Drive concluded on 3 October at Lyndhurst in the New Forest National Park, 18 days after starting at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

Funds raised this year came from people sponsoring the crews of the 50 cars which participated in all or part of the 3,400-mile drive around the circumference of the British mainland. Participants also raised money by carrying collection tins and actively requesting donations at venues en route, from photoshoots in Portmeirion, traffic jams caused by passing film crews in Scotland, to the various sunny seafront locations.

Runners in this year’s Round Britain Coastal Drive were flagged-away from the National Motor Museum by automotive book publisher and author Philip Porter, who also co-founded the International Jaguar XK Club, and who was inspired to create this event four years ago after receiving successful treatment for prostate cancer. 18 days later, runners were flagged across the finish-line by World and UK land speed record holder Don Wales, who has also been successfully treated for prostate cancer. Don – grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell MBE and nephew of Donald Campbell CBE – raised additional funds for Prostate Cancer UK at the Drive’s post-event dinner by auctioning a plaque containing a piece of the record-breaking boat Bluebird in which Donald Campbell lost his life on Coniston Water in 1967.

Philip Porter said, “For an event that was created as a one-off, it’s wonderful that the Round Britain Coastal Drive has continued to raise significant sums for charity four years later. The fact that this event brings together classic Jaguar owners for a scenic and sociable drive, which they can choose to join for anything from one day to 18 days, is a lovely bonus.”

Highlights of the Drive included a visit to Ben Nevis Distillery, where lunch was hosted by Jimmy Stewart of Fort William-based Classicfabs; lunch and a workshop tour of Turner Classics in Ramsgate, Kent; and a workshop tour of CKL Developments near Hastings in Sussex. Technical support throughout the event was kindly provided by renowned Jaguar parts specialists SNG Barratt Group, CBR Classic Restorations and Twyford Moors.

Gabriella Bailey, Senior Head of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, commented, “We are so incredibly grateful to Philip Porter and everyone involved in this year’s Round Britain Coastal Drive for Prostate Cancer UK. These events are fantastic and have raised over £250,000 for the charity, a tremendous amount that will help save men’s lives.

“Any funds raised through our partnership with the Jaguar XK Club this year, will be match-funded, pound for pound, by an anonymous partner. This generous offer will go towards supporting our Specialist Nurse services, the UK’s only telephone, email and Live Chat support specific to prostate cancer, at Prostate Cancer UK. For this we are extremely grateful.”
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