To Benidorm and Back: In Memory of Millie Rose
Join Buddy, Makayla, Mammy Kim and Granddad Bill on their incredible journey from Newton Aycliffe to Benidorm and back, all to raise vital funds for The Great North Children's Hospital and honour Millie Rose's memory. Discover how you can be a part of this adventure and make a real difference.
Buddy’s journey: to Spain and back – 2026 🚗🇪🇸
In September, Buddy, Makayla, Mammy Kim and Granddad Bill will be setting off on an unforgettable journey from our home all the way to Benidorm, Spain… and then all the way back again — in this car! This trip isn’t just about the miles we’ll travel, but about the difference we hope to make along the way.
Driving for a cause: raising funds for a better future
After getting the go-ahead from Makayla and Millie’s granddad, Bill, we’re excited to start raising even more money for an amazing cause: The Great North Children’s Hospital. Every penny we raise during this journey will go straight into the charity pot we’ve set aside, which will be donated in full at the end of the trip. To make things a bit more fun and to get everyone involved, we’ll be turning the car itself into part of the fundraiser!
Fun challenges and daily updates on our journey
Along the journey, we’ll also be setting fun challenges and tasks for Makayla as part of her sponsorship. Some may be silly, some may be difficult, and some might just be completely unexpected! If you sponsor her, you might even get to help decide what challenge she has to complete along the way. We’ll be posting daily updates during the trip, sharing photos, stories from the road, and of course showing off all the names and messages on the car as it fills up. From motorway stops to arriving in sunny Benidorm, you’ll be able to follow the whole journey with us.
Sponsor our Car!
By sponsoring our charity rally car, you are helping to keep the memory of our beautiful daughter, Millie Rose, alive while supporting the Great North Children's Hospital, which cared so compassionately for her during her battle with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Every sponsorship helps us raise vital funds, increase awareness, and support children and families facing similar journeys. In return, your business logo will be displayed on our rally car, giving you exposure throughout our journey and helping demonstrate your support for a truly meaningful cause.
Join us in making a real difference
This cause means a lot to us, and we’d love for as many people as possible to be part of the adventure. Whether you donate £1, £5, or simply share this post to help spread the word, it all helps make a real difference.
Here’s how you can take part:
£1 Donation – Add your name to the car
Your name will travel all the way from the UK to Spain and back with us. We’ll be covering the car with the names of everyone who supports the journey!
£5 Donation – Add a message to the car
You can add a short message for someone special. Many people choose to write a message for a loved one who may no longer be with us — a small way for them to be part of the journey too.
To help support the fundraising, we are inviting local businesses to sponsor the rally car. All sponsorships will be split between fuel for the car on the trip and the Great North Children's Hospital. There are three tiers to the sponsorship, which haven broken down below:
Tier 1: £20 sponsorship - this includes a small logo on the rally car
Tier 2: £50 sponsorship - this includes a medium logo on the rally car and a social media mention
Tier 3: £150 sponsorship - this includes a large logo on the rally car and regular social media promotion
By the time we reach Spain, we’re hoping the car will be completely covered in names and messages, and logo's each one representing someone who helped support this fantastic cause.