Three friends from the UK have banded together to travel with their Mini Coopers across the US in an attempt to raise funds for family friends back home whose four-year old son requires expensive surgery.
Jack Sims, of Portsmouth UK, was born with Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia, a condition which makes everyday activities including walking, extremely painful or impossible without the aid of a walker or other devices. The cutting edge surgery Jack requires can only be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and the friends are attempting to raise the funds for the surgery through this trip, entitled "The American Job."
The Mini-driving good samaritans are Alex Charlton, Peter Price and Dudley Brooke. They all took time from their regular jobs and spent their own money to send the vehicles over here. They've made contact with Mini enthusiasts all over the country and have traveled thousands of miles. They have a Facebook page, a website, and a twitter feed. Despite all of that, I phoned Alex this afternoon. I was greeted by a welcoming, excited and enthusiastic voice on the line. Alex was astounded at the reception they've been given in the USA and at how awareness of their cause has grown, not to mention the size of the donations for Jack's medical care.
Currently, the trio of owners and their Mini's are holed up in Florida with a local enthusiast who is replacing one of the Mini's engines as we speak. The replacement engine was donated by yet another enthusiast in exchange for an eventual rebuild of the removed engine some time in the future.
There is so much good to say about this trip, the selfless actions of the gentlemen undertaking it, and all the complete strangers who have sacrificed their own resources to aid the cause. Here is the link to make a donation, if you feel so compelled.
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