Kevin Birch, Nigel Botelho, David Parris, and Brent Millman have raised nearly £6,000 for the Bacta Charitable Trust after completing the Rat Run road challenge, which saw them drive 1,300 miles from Dover to Benidorm in a £350 “banger” named the Liberty Bell.
Industry veterans Kevin Birch, Nigel Botelho, and David Parris, alongside good friend Brent Millman, have raised nearly £6,000 for the Bacta Charitable Trust after completing the 1,300 mile road race from Dover to Benidorm known as The Rat Run.
Competing in a £350 “banger” named the Liberty Bell, the team spent three-and-a-half days driving through Europe alongside hundreds of fellow competitors, overcoming mountainous terrain, leaks, and even a robbery, to reach the Spanish coast.
“This was our first year taking part, and what an amazing challenge it turned out to be,” Kevin Birch told Coinslot. “We knew it was going to be an adventure, but until you actually set off you don’t really appreciate what you’re taking on.”
“Having around 200 cars all taking part, with everyone raising money for their chosen charities, created an amazing sense of camaraderie. Although we were all competing, there was a real feeling that everyone was in it together.”
Having secured the Beetle ahead of the race for well under the challenge’s £600 limit, the team enlisted the support of Blueprint and Ask Global to sponsor its distinctive livery, naming the vehicle Liberty Bell in honour of Charles Fey’s famous 1895 slot machine, the first three-reel slot machine with an automatic payout.
“There was inevitably some work to do to get the car ready for the challenge and make sure she was capable of tackling such a long journey,” said Kevin. “You never quite know what you’re going to encounter with an older car, and that became part of the adventure!”
“There were a few nervous moments along the way. We had a small water leak on the car which, fortunately, seemed to fix itself, but it was always in the back of our minds that something could go wrong.”
Despite those concerns, the team arrived in Benidorm on the afternoon of 11 September, three-and-a-half days after leaving Dunkirk, having driven through Rouen, Bordeaux, and Zaragoza to finally reach the Costa Blanca, where their wives had flown in to meet them.
Birch described arriving in Benidorm as “a fantastic feeling,” however, this was only half the adventure, with Birch, Botelho, Parris, and Millman choosing not to scrap the Liberty Bell like many fellow Rat Run competitors, but to drive back to the UK via Barcelona, a decision which delivered the trip’s one major setback.
“One of the biggest lows happened as we were leaving Spain heading home,” said Kevin. “We stopped at a service station and, in a split-second incident while we were filling the car, a bag belonging to David was stolen. It contained his passport, wallet and other belongings, so it was obviously a pretty horrible moment. Thankfully, it didn’t dampen our spirits for long. We had come so far and there was still an adventure to finish!”
By the time they were on the EuroTunnel home, the Liberty Bell team had raised an incredible £5,743.13 for the Bacta Charitable Trust, with the JustGiving page still open for those keen to help, and plans afoot to bring the Liberty Bell to ACOS.
“Even if we can’t get her inside the event itself, we’re hoping to arrange for her to be parked at the front entrance of the Ibis Earls Court,”he added.
“We’d love for the Liberty Bell to have one final outing and hopefully help us add to the fundraising total.”
Please see their JustGiving link below for anyone wishing to contribute or learn more about the cause.
https://www.justgiving.com/page/theratrun2026?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
John Bollom, Chairman of the Bacta Charitable Trust said…
“Huge congratulations to Kevin, Nigel, David and their good friend Brent Millman for completing the Rat Run. Bacta members go to extraordinary lengths to raise funds for the Bacta Charitable Trust and this initiative embodies the spirit and commitment that continues to drive and fund the work of the Trust.
“Over the past three decades the Trust has worked alongside a broad spectrum of charitable organisations as well as backing the fundraising of individual Bacta members, often supporting deeply personal causes that hold special meaning for them.
“Our long-standing support of Rays of Sunshine has generated circa £900,000 for the charity which grants magical wishes to seriously ill children. Every penny raised takes us closer to £1m: this represents a significant target but one that I am confident Bacta and its members will achieve before the industry meets at January’s EAG Expo.”
Originally published on Coinslot on September 21, 2026. Republished with permission.