Steve Simpson from Marwood's at Brompton on Swale hands
over their sponsor money

A YORKSHIRE DALES man who drove 3000 miles through Norway and beyond the Arctic Circle has thanked everyone who helped him raise almost £4000 for charity.

Adventurous pensioner Doug Redsell, 73, from Richmond took on the epic journey in his 1978 Citroen 2CV, to raise money for The Candlelighters Trust, following the death of his grandson to a rare form of muscle cancer earlier this year.

"The Candlelighters, based at St James' in Leeds, will help and support any child from Yorkshire receiving their treatment and their family, so it is a very important cause," says Mr Redsell, who also dropped in on Richmond's twin town of Vinstra on the return leg of his journey.

"There are still a couple of donations to collect, but the current total stands at £3754, which is really great. My trip seemed to catch people's imagination and individuals and businesses were hugely generous in their support, for which I am incredibly grateful."

A raffle, sponsorship and a charity barbeque night, overseen by volunteer Army chefs, at The Ship in Richmond all helped boost the amount raised. A silent auction of a signed England shirt donated by Travelcare raised £400 at the event. Flights in a private plane, kindly offered by a local dentist were also auctioned. Peter Marwood Citroen supported the Arctic challenge with £750 of sponsorship.