Charity blaggers reach the Channel Islands
Newbury fireman and friend have charmed their way to the Channel Islands today (Saturday)
WITH NO money, food, or plans, a Newbury firefighter and his friend have wheedled their way to the Channel Islands today (Saturday) as part of a prison break challenge.
Daniel Lawton and his friend Richard Knight, who are both aged 36 from Didcot, broke out from "jail" at Newbury Police Station at about 11.25am yesterday with the aim of getting as far away from Newbury as possible in 48 hours with no cash, food, spare clothing, or any idea of where they wanted to go.
The pair, who are firefighters based in Newbury and Didcot respectively, are taking part in the jail break challenge to raise money for The Firefighters Charity and Help for Heroes.
The one item they do posses is a passport, in case they manage to get abroad, and today, Mr Lawton said they have enjoyed the luxuries of free beer and some warm clothing as they charmed their way onto a ferry to Guernsey.
To escape from Newbury they caught a mini-bus from Chieveley and managed to get to Southampton, before their midnight jaunt to Cowes where they enjoyed liquid refreshment supplied by generous strangers.
Mr Lawton said: "We missed the tide out and were stuck in Southampton but managed to leave for Cowes at midnight.
"We managed to fit in a quick beer, on the house, before getting back to the boat, and now we're heading to Guernsey. We're not sure where we'll go after that.”
The pair said the support from the public has been "fantastic", as they have been provided with clothing and food free of charge.
Since September, Mr Lawton has been doing at least one fundraising event each month, including the Newbury Triathlon, the Three Peaks challenge, the New York Marathon and a 5k Santa Race in Didcot and he has raised about £5,500 of his £20,000 target so far.
Future events include white-water rafting, the Brighton Marathon, the London Marathon and the Great North Run.
To follow the pair's progress, click on the first link below and to donate to the cause, click on the second link to Mr Lawton's donation page below.
