Hospice Run

Back after a two-year sabbatical for the C-word, and now in its fourth year, the annual Children’s Hospice Run took place on 10 December.

Organised again by Sue Watts, with help from John Lobb, the plan was simple. Meet at 10am at a local car park then, once everyone was there, head off and cruise the short distance to Little Harbour Children’s Hospice in Saint Austell, park up, let the children come out to see the cars and hand over presents to the children and staff. Some participants decorated their cars and dressed up in festive costumes to make it more fun for the kids, too.

John Lobb’s 58 Apache van was kitted out as a travelling grotto and carried the gifts up to the hospice. A minimum £10 donation was asked of all taking part; due to the adverse weather conditions that struck most of the UK that weekend, a lot of people didn’t come but still contributed to the cause.

Gifts for the kids included Amazon vouchers and cinema tickets, and there was a selection of cakes and biscuits for the nurses who look after them and have done throughout the pandemic.

Once the run was finished, local hot rodder Graham Snow invited all the participants back to his holiday park for a heart-warming meal and hot drink at his on-site diner.

Despite the snow and icy conditions, the Run attracted 16 cars in total. Sue told me afterwrd that the event had raised just over £1100 overall, which is an incredible amount considering the cost-of-living crisis. The donations will go a long way to helping the hospice – a huge thanks to Sue for organising again, and of course to all the nurses at Little Harbour for the wonderful work they do CC

Right: Graham Snow recently bought this Chevy 3100 from local builder Garry Godden; down below, it’s fitted with London taxi running gear Far right: Steve Martin is a common sight in this ’29 Model A, which he’s owned for what seems like forever Below right: Deciding the icy weather was not best for his previously featured ’34 blown Hemi coupe, Garry and wife Judith came in their ’64 Falcon Camper Below: Trevor Pellow drives this GMC pick-up, which has modern running gear underneath Far left: Chris Grundy built this ’65 protouring Mustang himself and hasn’t stopped driving it since Left: Jason White recently bought this ’53 Vauxhall Wyvern, which runs a 2.0-litre Pinto and 5-speed box Far left, below: Hospice Run organiser Sue and partner Chris are a regular sight in their previously featured Chevy pick-up