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It was Monte Carlo - but not bust - for Dingley dads in rally





Chris Burnell and Andy Cullum, who both have children who attend the Dingley centre, set off on July 17 to raise funds towards the refurbishment of its new home, in the former Headstart Nursery building, Poplar Place, next to Shaw Social Club.
They formed two teams which consisted of friends Iain Black, Matt Fox Spencer, Olly Mobey, Jess Doe, Ben Butler and the Dingley bear mascot, for the Monte Carlo or Bust rally in which only cars valued under £250 can take part.
Despite getting off to a rocky start, with one of the cars breaking down before even reaching the Channel Tunnel, the group travelled to Monte Carlo via France, Switzerland and Italy and returned to Thatcham in one piece.
Mr Burnell said: “We found it to be an amazing experience and a great way of raising money for Dingley.
“We travelled 1,917 miles in 5 days in a £250 car, surviving the breakdown, heat, drive over the Alps, Turin traffic and French motorways.
“We met some fantastic people, experienced a whistlestop tour of European cultures, helped out a stranded French hitchhiker, spread some joy through carrying a massive teddy bear everywhere we went and have also managed to raise much more than we could possibly have hoped.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be able to give back to Dingley who have provided so much for my son, Spencer, and us as a family.”
Dingley provides care for children up to five with special needs and disabilities. The Newbury centre was required to leave its home at The Racecourse Newbury owing to development and plans to build at the Mencap centre, Enborne Road, fell through last year.
It is temporarily occupying The Phoenix Resource Centre, Newtown Road.
From next week, Dingley will undertake a huge refurbishment at its new home at Shaw Social Club, including the installation of a sensory room, upgrading disabled toilet facilities, creating a parents room and revamping the garden space.
Dingley centre manager, Louise Farmer, said: “We would like to say a massive thank you to Chris, Andy and their team mates for putting in so much time and effort in raising funds for all the children who attend West Berkshire Dingley.”



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