Land's End to John O'Groats - The Salvation Army Benefits from Charity Drive

Six foot, eight inch tall Tom Jones from Newton Abbot was so frustrated by the difficulties he encountered trying to take his driving test in his Peugeot Rallye 106 car that he determined he would undertake the longest journey that he could as a learner driver without using a motorway.

|PIC1|At the end of March, with the help of fellow Salvation Army friends - and having passed his test - Tom began his journey from Land's End to John O'Groats over some of Britain's best roads. His giant frame was accommodated in the Peugeot 106 Rallye model thanks to special modifications which effectively left him sitting in the rear foot well of the back seat.

24-year-old Tom has been an active member of The Salvation Army in both Newton Abbot, Devon, and in Wrexham and works as a senior rail strategist for the Freightliner Group. His previous work as a professional motorsports photographer inspired his interest in special edition cars.

As a committed Salvationist, Tom wants his hobby to benefit the charitable work of his church and obtained permission to personalise his Peugeot 106 Rallye with the distinctive Red Shield emblems of The Salvation Army. Its first public appearance in the new livery was at the 2006 French Car Show which Tom attended in the company of fellow members of the 106 Rallye Register.

Sponsorship of the Land's End to John O'Groats journey will benefit the work of The Salvation Army in support of the emergency services. The Salvation Army is a denomination of the Christian church, with a strong social conscience, seeking to alleviate distress wherever it is found and is able to fulfil a crucial role during and after a major emergency.

The Salvation Army has resources of property, which can be utilised as a place of safety for those who have been evacuated from their homes, trained personnel to provide immediate and ongoing support and a fleet of purpose built mobile canteen units which are equipped in order to be self sufficient at the incident site. These mobile units, which are based across the UK, are mobilised on a regular basis to provide both practical and emotional support to emergency services personnel. Most recently, Salvationists from the North West were among those first on the scene to support those involved in the tragic rail accident at Lambrigg in Cumbria.

|PIC2|Major Muriel McClenahan is The Salvation Army's Territorial Emergency Officer. She said ahead of Tom's drive:

'I am delighted to hear of Tom's determination to overcome the obstacles that initially hindered his ability to pass his driving test. The journey from Land's End to John O'Groats will highlight the breadth of the British Isles within which The Salvation Army seeks to be of service. I wish him every success and Godspeed with his endeavour.'

Tom hoped the trip would help him form a different view of motoring to that of the Founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth, who, of necessity embraced the use of a car to visit all parts of the British Isles, but never acquired a taste for motorised transport, declaring in 1904:

"I certainly have not yet found out where the pleasure of motoring comes in, you are either blown through and through by gales, or wetted through and through by rain, or choked through and through by dust...and what the roasting through and through by the sun is like I do not yet know.'

Contributions to the £1,000 target may be made via a special website which features details of the car and Tom's travels at www.motorphoto.co.uk