The Garage 356

Record-breaking funds
raised for Bangers4Ben
Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of UK Garage and Bodyshop Event
(UKGBE) has completed the 2023 Bangers4Ben rally, which raised
a combined £47,500 for automotive mental health charity, Ben.
UKGBE’s team, the Dublin Driving Dolls, took
on the 2023 edition of the madcap rally from
7 to 10 October in Ireland. The team travelled
1,500 miles over four days in their very own
barbie-themed ‘banger’ – and helped to
raise £3,000 that has contributed towards
the incredible amount raised for the charity
and UKGBE partner.
A total of 38 teams competed in the
madcap rally, including UKGBE’s Dublin
Driving Dolls, made up of UKGBE’s Alex
Jones, LKQ Euro Car Part’s Karena Shahid
and established aftermarket business owners
Louise Baker and Rachel Murray.
The team started from Holyhead to cross
the Irish Sea to Dublin, hitting the winding
roads of Ireland, before completing the tour
back in Dublin to board the ferry back to
Blighty.
The driving doll’s banger made it
through the whole rally this year without a
breakdown. Alex Jones, marketing director
at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of
Automechanika Birmingham and UKGBE says:
“We had the best time; we met so many
amazing people during the trip, old friends
and making new ones, and there was so much
natural interest along the route from people
– we even got donations handed to us when
we stopped.”
Bangers4Ben was created to raise
essential funds for the charity; all
entrants are required to pay a £1,050
entry fee and buy a car for less than
£750. Teams are encouraged to
participate in fancy dress and decorate
their vehicles however they choose. All
cars are then be auctioned off after
the mission is complete to raise even more
funds for the charity.
Louise Baker owns independent garage,
Womanic, which she opened in 2016,
and has over 20 years of experience ‘on
the spanners’, and along with teammate,
25-year-old, freelance refinisher
specialising in the automotive industry,
Rachel Murray, they spent their time in the
lead up to the event working tirelessly to
get the ‘banger’ ready.
“We had a mad rush trying to get the car
finished on time, but it was all worth it when
we finally got on the ferry to start the trip.
We had another incredible rally, this time
with a brilliant bunch of ladies on board and
we raised a fantastic amount for Ben. Roll
on Bangers4Ben 2024!”
Messe Frankfurt, organisers of UKGBE,
also held not one, but two big breakfast
events for Ben recently at the Messe
Frankfurt headquarters in Surrey. Offering
staff a delicious breakfast of pastries,
bagels and fruit, and asking for donations
in return. These events, along with
participation in Bangers4Ben, helped
contribute towards the £45,000 that has
been donated to the charity.
During the Bangers4Ben rally, Ben charity
was able to answer 340 requests for help,
gave out 23 urgent food grants, received
24 direct mental health cases from the
helpline and completed 40 mental health
assessments.
Alex Jones continues: “Donations to the
Ben charity helps to fund the critical work
it does in the automotive industry. We’re
delighted to have been able to contribute
essential donations to the fantastic amount
they raised this year. Thanks to everyone
who donated – and to Ben for organising a
brilliant event.”
You can still donate to support
Automechanika Birmingham’s Dublin Driving
Dolls team here: https://giving.ben.org.uk/
pf/dublindrivingdolls
THE GARAGE 31
30,31,News BEN Bangers.indd 2 30/10/2023 12:18