TWO Basingstoke teams will travel across Europe for nine days in a bid to pull in the pounds for two local causes.

Gavin Pomfret, along with his friends Andy Cook, Damian Gowan and Tom Hyde will be taking part in the nine-day Bulldog Rally, which sets off tomorrow, to raise funds for St Michael’s Hospice.

In addition, owner of the Tea Bar at the Top of The Town, Hayden Gowan and team members Stelios Papakyriacou, Brian Gowan and Jason Coombes are taking part in the rally to raise funds for the Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

The Bulldog rally is a car rally experience which sees teams battle it out with each other for the chance to win cash prizes each day for their chosen charity, while travelling through 12 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Austria and the Netherlands.

But teams taking part in the rally have the added challenge of trying to visit 12 countries in nine days with a second hand car that costs under £500.

Both teams have opted for a “Blues Brothers” theme and will be racing in second hand Saab cars.

The nine-day challenge is something Gavin has always wanted to take part in and he aims to raise £2,000 for St Michael’s Hospice, in Aldermaston Road as it is a cause close to his heart.

Gavin’s mum Sheila Pomfret spent her last few weeks in the hospice after being diagnosed with a carcinoid tumour three years before she passed away in 2005, and his wife’s best friend also received care at the hospice before she passed away eight years ago.

The 48-year-old father-of-two, who lives in Lower Chestnut Drive, Brookvale, told The Gazette: “It is very close to my heart. It is a good charity to do it for. I have done other things for them in the past including a parachute jump.

“The rally is something a friend of mine and myself talked about doing. It is not a race – it is really going from location to location but there are activities to do to raise more money for your charity.”

Gavin's team has received support from local businesses with their challenge with MPC Auto Repairs, in the Moniton Trading Estate, carrying out a free service on their Saab 900S convertible, and Carousel Costume Hire, in Priestley Road, providing them with Blues Brothers-themed outfits for the challenge.

To donate to both appeals, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=theboozebrothers&isTeam=true and https://www.justgiving.com/HaydenGowan-SteliosPapakyriacou/.