Begging for a bus: Three Peaks challengers appeal for transport support

Employees from Lincoln Drill Hall are appealing for vehicle owners or hire companies to provide a minibus or mini-van to help them complete the National Three Peaks challenge.

General manager Gary Malam, along with theatre technicians Alex Flanagan, Joe Price and Ed Atherton will be raising money for Lincoln Drill Hall this month. The money raised will support the charity-run arts centre as it faces an unprecedented challenge of finding £130,000 to ensure its survival.

The group will be making their attempt to conquer the UK’s biggest peaks, Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis between 29th and 31st August - But the team is still in need of a vehicle to get them to each mountain. They’re appealing for vehicle hire companies or mini-van owners to lend them a vehicle and some fuel to support their fundraising efforts.

As well as a vehicle, the team is also appealing for donations, which will go towards Lincoln Drill Hall’s ‘Be a Brick’ campaign.

General manager, Gary is hoping that the team can raise a significant amount of money to add to the total raised so far, which currently stands at over £81,000.

Ahead of the challenge, Gary said: “We’ve had a lot of support from the community in the run up to the Three Peaks Challenge, and the Be a Brick campaign has demonstrated just how much people value our fantastic arts centre. 

“We know it’s a bit cheeky, but it would be incredible to hear from anyone who can lend us a vehicle which can get us and our kit to each of the three mountains. If we can’t get that, our fundraiser’s not going anywhere - literally!

“We’d be very grateful to anyone who can help us and support Lincoln Drill Hall by donating or lending us a mini-bus or a mini-van. There’s a long history of local businesses and residents giving much-needed help to the venue so we can continue to share incredible and unique performances and art with the community.

Technical team member Alex added: “From Be a Brick to individual fundraising events, there are lots of ways that the Drill Hall is raising money to tackle our financial challenges. We saw that the public is really getting behind all the activities going on, so we thought it was important that we get stuck in too.

“We decided to take part in a sponsored Three Peak challenge because individually, we enjoy going on walks so we’re hoping to get a lot out of our adventure! Each of us is really invested in the Drill Hall and we’re passionate about securing its future in the community because we see on a daily basis how valuable and important it is to people. We want to be able to continue to showcase wonderful art, comedy and dance here for everyone to enjoy, and we hope the money our challenge raises helps do that.”

Lincoln Drill Hall launched its ‘Be a Brick’ campaign earlier this year, to help it make up for a series of reductions in public funding. As part of this campaign, people can ‘buy a brick’ to give the charity-run arts centre their support for £10 or £50 per year.

To get in touch with the team to donate a minibus for the Three Peak Challenge, call Gary on 07446 102952.

To sponsor the Lincoln Drill Hall team Three Peaks challenge, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lincolndrillhall3peakschallenge