Intrepid pals are revving up for the road trip of a lifetime – travelling nearly 3,000 miles through Europe in an eye-catching, sticker-bombed Audi.
Luke Rixon and Michael Nelson, both 31 and born on the same day, are tackling this year’s Rust Bucket Rally as a way of raising funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The pair are driving from their hometown of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, to Monaco and back over the course of four days in September.
To make their mission more challenging, they will be travelling in a 22-year-old Audi TT, bought for £1,000 on Facebook Marketplace and now proudly plastered in colourful Stitch stickers.
Originally blue, the car has been affectionately nicknamed their ‘cartoon missile’.
“It turns heads everywhere we go,” said Michael.
“Kids love it, and people take photos – it’s basically a cartoon character on wheels.”
The rally, which kicks off on 12th September, will take the duo through Germany, Switzerland and France on route to Monaco.
Neither of the friends is a mechanic – they just like ‘playing around with cars,’ according to Luke – but the TT, with 140,000 miles under its belt, has already handled a test run to Snowdon.
“It feels like a go-kart,” said Michael. “Chaotic, but in a fun way.”
Luke and Michael say their challenge isn’t just about ‘banter and breakdowns. It’s deeply personal’.
The pair are raising funds for EACH – the charity that supported Luke’s sister-in-law, Nicola, when son Ethan received end-of-life care in 2013.
“Born 16 weeks early in October 2009, he was impossibly small, but lived up to the meaning of his name ‘warrior’,” said Nicola.
“He battled through everything a premature baby could face.
“Time and again, we were told to say goodbye, but he kept proving everyone wrong.”
Despite many hospital stays and intensive care admissions, Ethan reached his first birthday – a huge milestone.
“Though still the size of a newborn, he shone with a smile that lit up every room and blonde curls that bounced as he danced to music he loved,” added Nicola.
“He never spoke but could hum any tune. He didn’t walk – until one day, he stood up in front of doctors who said he never would and strolled across the room.
“He loved proving people wrong, and he adored his siblings – Ben, Eliza and Oliver. He loved playing with them and being part of our little family.”
In 2013, Ethan caught a virus that his already-scarred lungs couldn’t handle.
That summer, EACH welcomed the family to its hospice in Milton, supporting them through Ethan’s final weeks.
“They helped me become a palliative care mum,” said Nicola.
“They gave us space to breathe, time to be together and memories we could hold onto forever.”
Ethan died on 16th September 2013, after a night of singing and dancing with his family – his favourite things in the world.
“That’s why this rally means so much,” said Luke.
“We’re doing it in Ethan’s memory and to raise funds so EACH can help other families like ours.”
To support Luke and Michael’s rally in memory of Ethan and raise funds for EACH, head here.
