LOCAL dealership Pentagon is backing a charity expedition heading 800 miles north of the Arctic Circle to raise money for the armed forces charity Help For Heroes.
A team of four vehicles and eight drivers is setting off today on a 4,600-mile driving challenge that aims to raise more than £25,000 to help members of the British Armed Forces injured serving their country.
Pentagon has donated a specially adapted Jeep Wrangler 4x4 to the team that will use a Webasto heater to keep the engine from freezing in the sub-zero temperatures.
The team will have to contend with temperatures as low as minus 40C on the trip north through Denmark and Norway before crossing into the Arctic Circle and arriving at their destination in Nordkapp at the northern tip of Denmark.
Mike Cox, general manager at Pentagon, said: "A trip like this is a massive challenge for everyone involved and at Pentagon we are thrilled to be able to support them with a vehicle and with the fundraising effort."
Pentagon staff will be taking part in fundraising events across all its dealerships in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North West during the 17 days the Arctic Challenge team is away and they aim to raise in excess of £10,000 for the charity. Events include activities like fancy dress days, cake sales and a donation from every car and van sold and every service carried out in its workshops.
Army reservist Ian Williams will be driving the vehicle donated by Pentagon. He said: "We're expecting severe blizzards and we could see as much as three to four foot of snowfall in a day."
Find out more at www.bmycharity.com/arctic heroeschallenge.