A team of north-east men, who embarked on a 2,000-mile charity roadtrip in a Thomas the Tank Engine car they built, have reached their destination in Spain.
Peterhead quartet, James Ritchie, Graeme Smith, Graham Cowie and Allan Taylor designed the machine to take part in the annual Benidorm Banger event to raise cash for Spina Bifida Hydrocelphalus (SBH) Scotland.
Thomas is a favourite of Mr Ritchie’s two-year-old son, also called James, who suffers from spina bifida. The Bloo Toon Loons team set off on their adventure on May 1 and arrived in Benidorm on Saturday.
Along the way, the team visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris and stopped off in the tiny Principality of Andorra in the Pyrenees.
The Loons celebrated completing the challenge with a day of go-karting yesterday.
James’s mum Emma said: “I am so very proud of the four guys for the time and effort they have put into making Thomas look like this. They have cut no corners while doing it and they’ve really thought of everything.”
Mr Taylor’s wife Lynne added: “The Loons have arrived in Benidorm – let the celebrations begin. Thanks for all the support they have received.”
The team has already raised more than £3,500 through their online fundraising page.
A spokeswoman for SBH Scotland said the organisation is “in awe” of the efforts the team took to build the car and journey to Spain.
She added: “Every penny raised by the Bloo Toon Loons will go into providing our Aberdeen support group and continuing our home and hospital support which is a vital lifeline for those affected by these life-long, complex disabilities in the north of Scotland.”
To donate to the Bloo Toon Loons campaign, visit their Facebook page.
