Rust 2 Rome continues fundraising rally for Doddie

Rust 2 Rome was hatched when Alan, or ‘Watty’, and his friends decided that with a budget of £1,000 they would attempt to drive all the way to the Italian capital in an old ‘banger’ emblazoned with the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation tartan and the number ‘5’ on the front as an homage to Doddie’s oft-worn Scotland jersey.

The team set off on 6 July from South Queensferry and a week later, on the 13^th, arrived at their destination – the Colosseum in Rome.

Alan said: “Our trip incorporated many spectacular landscapes and impressive views landmarks such as Monaco and incredibly difficult driving challenges. In France after climbing up a particularly windy mountain, we crossed the Milllau Viaduct bridge in convoy. The Milllau is the tallest bridge in the world at 343 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower and 2,460 metres long.

Thankfully we got to Rome, but on the way him the car broke down going through a tunnel in Bologna in Italy. The car was towed away and examined by mechanics; the Italians were incredibly friendly and one family in particular stayed with us until recovery vehicles and everything was sorted out – incredible.”

Watty won four caps for Scotland with Doddie in the early 1990s and, with the assistance of friends assistance friends Paul Toon and Murray Watt, on a trip dubbed ‘a Top Gear adventure without the 15 support vehicles’, they have so far raised over £16,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

You can support Alan, Paul and Murray’s Rust2Rome fundraising by visiting their JustGiving page here.