The 'Macmillan Minion' is Benidorm-bound for cancer research

A team of four are raising vital money for charity by driving more than 1,400 miles to Spain in their cartoon character-inspired banger.
Todd Shimell, a member of the Minions team, will be driving to Benidorm in a charity fund-raiser after doing up a 60 Ford Mondeo. Photos: Neil Cross.Todd Shimell, a member of the Minions team, will be driving to Benidorm in a charity fund-raiser after doing up a 60 Ford Mondeo. Photos: Neil Cross.
Todd Shimell, a member of the Minions team, will be driving to Benidorm in a charity fund-raiser after doing up a 60 Ford Mondeo. Photos: Neil Cross.

The team from Garstang and Preston – Todd Shimell, Bob Thompson, Luke Angel, and Dale Smith – will drive from Preston to Benidorm next month to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

And the team will do it in a £60 Ford Focus that they’ve transformed into a Minion from the popular Despicable Me animated films.

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Todd, a mechanic by trade who has been fixing up the car at his Fulwood garage, said: “We’d seen things on Facebook about teams driving to Benidorm to raise money for charity and we thought ‘why not give it a go?’

Todd Shimell, a member of the Minions team, will be driving to Benidorm in a charity fund-raiser after doing up a 60 Ford Mondeo. Photos: Neil Cross.Todd Shimell, a member of the Minions team, will be driving to Benidorm in a charity fund-raiser after doing up a 60 Ford Mondeo. Photos: Neil Cross.
Todd Shimell, a member of the Minions team, will be driving to Benidorm in a charity fund-raiser after doing up a 60 Ford Mondeo. Photos: Neil Cross.

“Luke said let’s turn it into a Minion for some fun and it’s just taken off from there.

“We all did the car together over a couple of months. There’s been some late nights in the garage but its worth it to see what we have made.”

The team will start the journey to Benidorm from Todd’s garage on May 13, aiming to arrive in the city four or five days later.

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Before the team set off they are heading to Old Holly Farm in Cabus on April 28 for a family fund-raiser, following on from their Easter exploits at the Garstang Bonnets and Bunnies Festival.

The rally starts at 8am on May 13, from the Brake-Fit garage in Fulwood.The rally starts at 8am on May 13, from the Brake-Fit garage in Fulwood.
The rally starts at 8am on May 13, from the Brake-Fit garage in Fulwood.

“The Bonnets and Bunnies was brilliant. Kids loved it and wanted hugs from the Minion and photos with it and the car,” Luke explained.

The Macmillan Minion has so far raised £1,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support after setting an initial target of £1,000. The team are now aiming for £2,000 in total.

You can donate to their cause by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dale-smith17