A GROUP of motorists has set off on a 2,500-mile round trip to Sweden for a Wirral charity helping children with cerebral palsy.

Dale Bland, owner of Keep it Cheap Garage Services in Birkenhead, wife Tanya and colleagues Steve Giles and Brad Stevenson began their journey to Volvo's headquarters in aid of Wallasey-based Stick’n’Step on Friday afternoon.

They are travelling in a vintage 240 series Volvo, which was manufactured in 1975 in Gothenburg and is anticipated to take around five days to complete.

The team was waved from Stick’n’Step’s Liscard headquarters by Wirral mayor, Cllr Dave Mitchell and Mrs Galaxy UK, Samantha Ratcliffe, alongside staff, families and supporters.

The trip is taking place through the charity's 50/50 fundraising challenge.

The organisation invited gave 50 businesses £50 each to kick-start fundraising, in a bid to raise a collective amount of £150,000 by November.

Dale said: "Cars have always been a hobby of mine, so when the opportunity to join Stick'n' Step's 50/50 challenge arose I couldn’t wait to get involved.

"I decided to do something that’s unusual, in the hope that this will get some big name sponsors to back us and ultimately the charity."

Kerry Roe-Ely, Stick'n'Step’s community and events fundraiser, said: “Since we launched the 50/50 challenge in November last year, we have had a fantastic response from all those involved.

"Dale's decision to go on a sponsored road trip is a great example of the sorts of ways in which local businesses can fundraise for charity.

“We can’t wait to hear how the ‘Keep It Cheap’ team gets on during their fundraising journey.”

Keep It Cheap will updating supporters on the team’s progress whilst on the trip, with pictures and blogs, via its Facebook page Sticknstepvolvochallenge2014 To support the Volvo challenge team visit its JustGiving page ‘sticknstep-volvochallenge’.

Stick ‘n’ Step provides conductive education and support services to children with cerebral palsy and their families and carers across the North West of England and North Wales.

To get involved with Stick ‘n’ Step’s 50/50 Challenge for businesses, contact Kerry Roe Ely at Stick ‘n’ Step on 0151 638 0888 or visit to find out more.