Intrepid adventurers Moin Valli and Andrew McGee have completed a weekend drive to Le Mans and back to raise funds for a Huddersfield-based charity.

The Forget Me Not 500 Rally saw Moin, managing director of Valli Opticians, and Andrew, of displays and graphics specialist TFive Design, leave Huddersfield for the Channel Tunnel – stopping off at Brands Hatch on the way.

They also made a pit stop at optical lens supplier Rodenstock at Northfleet, Kent, to say “bonjour” to managing director and team sponsor Niels Jensen.

They reaching the Le Mans 24 hour race track to soak up the atmosphere at one of motor racing’s most iconic venues before driving to Arromanches in Normandy to pay their respects at one of the key locations of the D-Day landings which took place 70 years ago.

The duo them made their way to Caen where they caught the overnight ferry to Portsmouth before driving back to Huddersfield – via Silverstone – in time for tea on Father’s Day!

Moin said: “We had a fantastic time which was made very special by the knowledge that we have raised about £5,000 for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

“The hospice has to raise over £2.8m pounds each year to provide their vital services with less than 5% coming from government funding, so initiatives such as this really do make a difference.”

Kate Goldring, hospice corporate partnership manager, said: “It was fantastic to have Valli Opticians on board with our very first year of the Forget Me Not 500 and I know they will help us to shape next year’s event.

“They have raised a staggering amount through this challenge and we can’t say thank them enough. Even in the face of adversity they found a positive as the exhaust they lost on the exit ramp of the ferry is currently being polished up to form the trophy for the challenge in years to come.

“Their support has been just incredible.”

Valli Opticians owns practices in Meltham, Lockwood, Honley, Almondbury, Wakefield, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.

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