A Driving Force for SSAFA 2024 sets off at HMS Excellent

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01 August 2024

A Driving Force for SSAFA is a biennial charity event, raising funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. It involves seventy people in thirty-five vehicles, including participants and support vehicles, on an exhilarating 10-day driving adventure across the Iberian Peninsula and Gibraltar from 30 July to 9 August 2024.

The event began with a dinner, followed by a Beating Retreat ceremony in front of the Wardroom to the Parade Ground at HMS Excellent, and then the participants drove off to start their 10-day adventure after a dropping of the flag to celebrate the beginning of the event. There were some very distinguished VIPs in attendance, including the Controller of SSAFA, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory, and 2-star representatives from each of the three military services.

The event is created and managed by ex-serving members of HM Forces Benn Laidler MBE and Steve Shaw MA, FCILT, CMCIPD, Directors of A Driving Force. The two men witnessed first-hand the hardship and devastation suffered by casualties of military conflict. They realised that these courageous men, women, and their families needed support to cope with the aftermath of such traumatic life changing injuries or loss.

Since 2012, they have been fundraising through charity driving events, which have taken place across the UK and mainland Europe raising over three quarters of a million pounds for many charities supporting military personnel. The 2022 event managed to raise a staggering £173,000.

Steve Shaw MA, FCILT, CMCIPD, Director of A Driving Force for SSAFA said:

“We are very excited to be launching A Driving Force for SSAFA 2024 from HMS Excellent, and we would like to say a special thank you to the President of the Mess Committee (PMC), Commander Paul Thomson, Royal Navy for hosting the launch of our 2024 event.

"As we know, the nation is coming to terms with the unseen impact of sending 150,000 military personnel to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of those, 636 people sadly lost their lives. Regrettably, tens of thousands more were left with unseen injuries both mentally and physically, which they carry with them each and every day. We can probably never relieve them of the burden, but we can certainly help, bringing to bear our passion, enthusiasm and drive as ex-members of the Armed Forces.

"Entrants to the event come from all walks of life and coalesce around a common goal; to help others whilst having the adventure of a lifetime.”

The drivers will make their first stops in iconic Spanish cities such as Bilbao, Madrid, and Córdoba, before stopping in Gibraltar at the halfway point. After a couple of nights in the famous British Overseas Territory they will head back up through Spain, stopping in Badajoz, Salamanca, and San Sebastian, before returning to Portsmouth.

Jonathan Sandall, Director of Fundraising for SSAFA, says: “Over the last decade, Steve and Benn have raised a phenomenal amount of money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity through their charity driving events, whilst also remembering the brave servicemen and servicewomen who made the ultimate sacrifice whilst on operations.”