Rally for Heroes Roar Off From Horse Guards Parade

Cars at this year's event

A fleet of rally cars have set off from London to Europe to raise funds to help servicemen and women.

The Rally for Heroes 60-vehicle strong convoy left Horse Guards Parade and plan to cover around 10 countries in 10 days, raising money for armed forces charity, SSAFA.

The rally will cover a total of 3,000 miles across Europe - five miles for every member of the military who has died since the start of the Afghanistan campaign.

SSAFA say they have helped over 67,000 people this year, from World War Two veterans to those involved in more recent conflicts.

Rally for Heroes Director, Army Sergeant, Mick Clark, who is based at Regimental HQ in Catterick Garrison, came up with the idea while serving in Afghanistan in 2010.

Clark said: "In 2009 before deploying out to Afghanistan, we were looking to take a trip down to the Stelvio National Park, which has some of the best driving roads in Europe.

"Whilst deployed, out on Op Herrick, we decided to try and make it into a charity event, and it sort of grew arms and legs from there... returning in 2010, [with] 27 cars wanting to take part and 54 people." 

So far this year, Rally for Heroes say they have raised over a £130,000.

Eileen Breeze is one of the oldest driver at this year's event. Her car is designed in poppies, in memory of every fallen hero since the start of the war in Afghanistan.

Breeze said: "It's so nice to be driving a car with the true meaning of why Rally for Heroes is doing this.

"It is in memory of all the personnel that have died, which is a bit emotional."

Mike Westaway, another rally driver, said: I've had lots of friends that I've lost over the years. I've never served in the services but I've got a lot of respect.

"They put their lives on the line and if we can give something back... that's the least we can do."

The rally has taken place every two years since 2010. The organisers say they have raised in excess of £400,000 for SSAFA, The Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes.

Mandy Small attended with her son, Jamie, who sadly lost their husband and father, Chris, an army veteran, in 2016.

They have since raised funds for charity.

Ms Small, who is an RAF veteran herself, said: "This is huge because there are so many people out there, not just families, but veterans and serving members, that do need help, and I think there's not enough of them out there asking for help."

The memorial rally is taking place from 2 to 11 August.