By Lauren Sneath

EDUCATIONAL charity The Outward Bound Trust will soon be receiving a sizeable donation from the staff at de Poel, a recruiting outsourcing specialist company, as they have completed ‘The Rusty Rally: Italian Route’.

The Knutsford based company’s four-strong team raised the required £10,000 in sponsorship money in order to participate in the adventure of early June 2017.

In order to take part in the challenge, a team must also find a ‘rusty’ car, and the de Poel group chose a Mercedes E-Class which cost £500. The vehicle had to travel along notoriously difficult roads, including mountain passes and steep, tight bends.

Chief executive officer Andrew Preston and his group travelled more than 800 miles in three days in the retro car, across six European countries.

The challenge passed through France, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland before coming to a close in Italy, passing Lakes Como and Maggiore.

Andrew said: “We were thrilled to be able to take part in The Outward Bound Trust’s Rusty Rally challenge for a second year, and further support the fantastic work they do.

“It is humbling to know our donation will truly transform the lives of many children and young adults – helping them to become more confident and capable at school and eventually in the workplace, nurturing them as leaders of the future.

“It is not every day you get to experience such amazing sights and different cultures – knowing every penny was going to such a worthy cause kept us on track. We’re relieved that our Rusty Rally car did us proud – and that we made it back in one piece.”

The money raised will go towards The Outward Bound Trust’s learning programmes which aim to better equip young people with valuable life skills.