Cumbrian couple take up Cannonball Run challenge to support IPF

John Oakden and Ford Granada

The Cannonball Run and the Rugby Football Union’s Injured Players Foundation (IPF) are unlikely bedfellows, but they will become partners later this summer thanks to the efforts of John Oakden and his wife Sally from Newby Bridge in the Lake District.

John became an IPF client and supporter when, in 1980 and just a month after his 16th birthday, he damaged his spine in a rugby accident at Sedbergh School. Luckily, if the term can be properly used, the spinal cord was crushed but not severed, a crucial distinction which has enabled him to rebuild his life to such an extent that he can embark on the Cannonball challenge to support organisations who have helped him.

His condition is technically described as ‘C4/C5 Quadriplegic’ and only after a long battle against his disabilities has he been able to reach a position where he can start to think about raising money for other people similarly challenged.

Which brings the story to the point where John and Sally are about to embark on an epic challenge. The 2011 Cannonball Run Europe in July will involve travelling 2500 miles across Europe in six days.

Adding an extra dimension to the magical mystery tour that is the Cannonball Run is that the couple will be travelling, unlike many other entrants who have a modern ‘supercar’ to ride in, but in a 1974 MK1 Ford Granada.

The route and logistics of the trip, in which the winner is the car which comes closest to averaging 60mph over the whole trip, are not revealed to entrants until shortly before departure from each rest stop. Last year’s run started at Brooklands Motor Museum in Surrey with the first leg being to Portoroz on the Slovenian coast, 923 miles from Dunkirk.

Car had Monte Carlo test run last year 

"We took the car to Monte Carlo last year and got home safely, although we used 11 litres of oil in the process, so we’ve had fit a new engine." said John. "Luckily my wife’s father knows about these things and had got it finely tuned and running nicely.

"We’re excited about the event and looking forward to it. Hopefully we can raise some money to give to Spinal Research, which is doing amazing work, and to the RFU Injured Players Foundation, which has also helped us. We’ve raised some funds through our business customers at KC Inks in Kendal and we’re hoping to get more sponsors at the Middlesex Sevens.

"We feel that we should try to give something back and this is something I can do, so we’re going for it."

You can sponsor John and Sally on the Cannonball Run at http://www.justgiving.com/KC-Inks-Ltd.

The RFU Injured Players Foundation supports people who sustain a catastrophic injury whilst playing rugby. The charity provides help and support for both players and their families in the early months of these injuries as well as in the long term and incorporates the former SPIRE Rugby Trust charity.