12:00pm Sunday 15th February 2009
By Patrick Knox
WHEN Darrell Weston heard about the plight of a Hampshire children’s hospice he knew something had to be done fast.
Naomi House, in Sutton Scotney, is struggling to recover £5.7m after its cash was frozen in the failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander.
So Darrell came up with a novel idea of people signing up to the “world’s fastest autograph book”.
The quick-witted idea involves people making a donation before penning their name on Darrell’s “superstox” car – which he races at Ringwood Raceway in Bournemouth – until the entire surface is full.
Darrell, of Cornish Close, Basingstoke, said he appreciated the important role hospices play after his father, John, died of cancer in 2000.
The 29-year-old said: “Naomi House offers the care and support to help make these children’s last days as enjoyable as possible.
“When I visited, there was such a wonderful atmosphere.”
When he took the two-litre car to Kempshott Scout Hall, in Stratton Park, Kempshott, for a couple days at a weekend it left with 100 signatures – clocking up £250 for the cause.
Darrell is hopeful a few more people will race to help a good cause.
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