“There are just 4 sleeps to go before the Pink Car Rally cuts a pink swathe through the glorious Welsh countryside, as it travels from #South2NorthWales raising awareness of, and funds for, the Little Princess Trust charity. The Pink Participants – or Pinkies as they are collectively called – are aiming to raise at least £3,500 which will fund 10 ‘real hair’ wigs for children, on this 10th and final rally.”
I struggle to believe that it was nearly 11 years ago when I first found out about the Little Princess Trust charity, attended their AGM and volunteered to help raise awareness of the charity. I created the annual Pink Car Rally, intending it to be a 5-year initiative but after a particularly eventful year in 2012 for two of the Pinkies (which I referred to as an anus horribilis in a press release, not noticing the typo until after I pressed ‘send’!) I pledged to continue organising rallies for another 5 years. This weekend will be the 10th and final rally. Once the dust has settled, I will go through the paperwork to ascertain exactly how much we have raised through the rallies, but I believe it to be in excess of £70,000.
Pink cars around the UK are being serviced, valeted and adorned in preparation for the weekend. The Pink Car Rally t.shirts are on their way, once again kindly sponsored by Ratchet Clothing, and lovely treats for the Pinkies’ goody bags are arriving daily. The excitement is palpable. I find it curious that I can be as excited about the 10th rally as I was about the 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. So much has happened over the years. I have met lots of lovely Pinkies, been told lots of beautiful stories, seen so many wonderful places, met several children who have received wigs from the charity, and photographed a few kind celebrities with my car! I have a portfolio of funny stories and ‘Sali Moments’ guaranteed to brighten the dullest of days. One of my personal goals is to create a book about the Pink Car Rally and share lots of the things I have seen, done, learnt and enjoyed, with the world. My aim is that the book is not only a colourful adornment to any coffee table, but will also act as a fundraising ‘case study’ to other fundraisers. Last year I was honoured to be chosen as an Institute of Fundraising (IoF) Rising Star, to speak at the IoF Convention at the Barbican Centre. My presentation was on ‘Fundraising on a Shoestring’ and the rally was one of the initiatives I mentioned. As with all things, publishing a book costs money and I am seeking sponsorship to enable me to progress this idea. If you can help, please let me know. Needless to say, I would like a percentage of the proceeds to go to the charity.
This weekend’s rally will start at Tesco in Penarth, near Cardiff and end in Aberystwyth. Day 2 will see us travelling from Aberystwyth to Llandudno Junction. Full details of the route can be found on our website, but please note that the timings are approximate. If you’re reading this and you have a pink car, it may not be too late to join us. If you’re on Facebook please message the Pink Car Rally page, otherwise please email me at pinkcarrally@me.com
If you like what we do and would like to support us, here is a donation link.
If you’re out and about in Wales over the weekend and you happen to see lots of pink cars, please give us a toot and a wave. Thank you.
Pink Car Rally Reporter 