2009 Italian Job
40 years on from the original bullion robbery and the re-enactment starts again. Mary and Ian Sims from the Isle of Man are to travel to Northern Italy by Classic Mini where they will meet up with other fellow “Jobbers” from all corners of the globe in October 2009.
This is an event organised by “The Italian Job” organisation www.italianjob.com in aid of the charity ‘KidsOut’ and, in Mary and Ian’s case the local Children’s Hospice, Rebbeca House, too. The organisation has put on this event every year since 1989 and up to the present day has raised just over £2,000,000.
The vehicle Ian and Mary are using is a 1966 Morris Mini Traveller which is being prepared for the 3,700 miles round trip where they travel at their own pace to Northern Italy to meet up with the other cars for scrutineering and briefing etc on 19th October 2009 in Turin. Following some of the original Italian Job route the Minis took, there will be a navigational rally day to Florence via Monza and then on to Rome, a day of sport at Vallelunga circuit after which we travel to Immola, then making our way back to Calais by 31st October. En-route there will be fund raising events and an auction of goods brought by the “Jobbers”. They will return to the UK on 1st November 2009, for the grand finish in London.
To start their fund raising Mary and Ian are at present selling “Prize Draw” tickets for £1 each (10 per book), to win a first prize of a brand new 2009 specification Mini, second prize is a weekend holiday for 2 in the 4 Star Meridien Lingotto Hotel in Turin Italy, the third prize is a weekend holiday for 2 at the Tenuta Santtome Hotel near Venice in Italy, fourth prize is a return ferry crossing with SEAFRANCE car and 4 passengers, and fifth prize is a hamper of delicious Italian wines and food.
Mary and Ian are funding their own expenses, hotel, food, etc and have managed to fund the entry fee and fuel through family and friends. Therefore any money donated, raised from supporters, or via the prize draw tickets or advertising space on the Mini, will all be for the benefit of the charities.
The money raised by the “Jobbers” is split as follows: 15% to “The Italian Job Development Fund”, 5% to a local Italian children’s charity and 80% to KidsOut www.kidsout.org.uk, but in Mary and Ian’s case, they have negotiated with the organisers that half of the 80% will be donated to The Children’s Hospice, Rebbeca House, on the Isle of Man.
If you would like any more details, or have any offers of support, please contact Ian Sims 07624 496879 or use the contact form.
