Ex-Eastenders mechanic tuning up for 'Scumrun' launch in Kent

Actor Ricky Groves – the man who played mechanic Garry Hobbs in Eastenders for nine years – will be in Ashford on Thursday 17 May for a charity car challenge with a difference.

The 49-year-old - who has competed in Strictly Come Dancing (2009), Celebrity MasterChef (2011) and Splash (2013) – will be supporting children’s charity Action Medical Research at the launch of the 2018 ‘Scumrun’ event.

“I’m so excited to be a part of the challenge” says Ricky. “I’ve been supporting Action for 8 years years now, it’s a wonderful charity and I hope all the teams have an amazing adventure and raise lots of money!”

Scumrun is an annual five-day driving challenge which sees teams in creatively modified vehicles and fancy dress travel hundreds of miles across Europe. This year it takes place between 17 - 21 May and Action is the chosen charity.

The route is a well-kept secret with checkpoints only being revealed the morning before each stage begins. Teams will set off from the Holiday Inn Ashford Central at around 10.30am on Thursday 17 May.

Action’s Head of Relationship Fundraising, Toby Tennant said: “We’re really excited to be working with the organisers and to be a part of Scumrun in 2018!

“It’s fantastic that Ricky has agreed to come down and meet all the teams the night before – he’ll be hosting the evening’s entertainment and then sending them off in style the following morning. You never know, he might even get called upon for any last minute car repairs too!”

Action Medical Research has been funding medical breakthroughs since it began in 1952 including helping to introduce the first polio vaccines in the UK, developing the use of ultrasound in pregnancy and testing the rubella vaccine.

The charity is currently funding research into conditions including asthma, prematurity, epilepsy, meningitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer and some rare and distressing conditions.

-END-

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Members of the media are invited to attend the launch of Scumrun from 9am on Thursday 17 May at the Holiday Inn Ashford-Central, Canterbury Road, Ashford, TN24 8QQ.
There will be an opportunity to interview Ricky Groves and take pictures of all the colourful cars and the teams as they set off.
Please confirm your attendance in writing to Peter Denton pdenton@action.org.uk by 5pm on Tuesday 8 May 2018.

Photos
To download a photo of Ricky Groves:
https://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/press/ricky_groves_1.jpg

https://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/press/ricky_groves_2.jpg

To download photos of cars:
Scooby Doo van
https://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/press/scumrun_mystery_van.jpg

Purple pimp mobile
https://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/press/scumrun_pimp-mobile_2.jpg

Rally car
https://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/press/scumrun_team_shannon.jpg

To download the Scumrun logo:
https://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/press/scumrun_ep.png

To download the Action logo:
https://www.action.org.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/press/action_logo_for_header.jpg

Previous regional press releases on individual teams

75-year-old Lincolnshire woman prepares for 'Scumrun'
https://www.action.org.uk/press-release/75-year-old-lincolnshire-woman-prepares-scumrun

Feltham car fans prepare for charity car challenge
https://www.action.org.uk/press-release/feltham-car-fans-prepare-charity-car-challenge

For more information on Action Medical Research, contact Peter Denton, Fundraising Communications Officer, on:

T: 01403 327412
E: pdenton@action.org.uk
W: www.action.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter at @actionmedres and @amr_events 
Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/actionmedres
Follow us on Instagram at @actionmedres and @actionevents 

Action Medical Research is a leading UK-wide charity saving and changing children’s lives through medical research. For more than 65 years we’ve helped pioneer ways to prevent disease and develop treatments benefiting millions of people. Our research has helped to beat polio in the UK, develop ultrasound in pregnancy, fight meningitis and prevent stillbirths. But we urgently need to develop more new treatments and cures for sick babies and children and we can’t do it without you.

Join our fight for little lives today.

Charity reg. nos 208701 and SC039284.