Rachel is driving Miss Daisy for charity
A Devon woman with incurable cancer is taking part in a rally across Europe in a converted London taxi called Daisy to raise money for charity.
Rachel Stewart and husband Mark will drive their distinctive white cab in the Motoscape Road Trip to Prague, going through 12 countries in seven days.
They’re doing it in aid of Exeter-based FORCE Cancer Charity and national organisation Make 2nds Count.
The rally is for “bangers” worth £500 or less or classic vehicles that are 20 years old or more.
It starts on Saturday September 3 from St Omer in France and will end in Prague the following Friday.
Teams can chose their own routes from the UK through France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
There’s also an option to drive the famous Nürburgring, one of the most challenging motor racing circuits in the world.
“It should be funny seeing Daisy being lapped by all the big, souped up cars,” said Rachel.
She and Mark are no strangers to adventure – they sold their home in Tiverton to live in a converted horsebox called BoobyDo! after Rachel’s second cancer diagnosis in five years.
She was diagnosed with two types of breast cancer in June 2016 and had chemotherapy, a mastectomy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy and 18 rounds of Herceptin injections.
She had support from FORCE, including counselling to help her come to terms with the diagnosis and mindfulness classes and complementary therapies such as reflexology to aid relaxation.
“Not to mention numerous cups of tea and biscuits while waiting for appointments plus an invaluable Moving Forward programme to adapt to the 'new norm' that any cancer diagnosis brings,” said Rachel.
FORCE also helped her family as the charity recognises that a cancer diagnosis and treatments affect those close to patients too.
Since Rachel's initial diagnosis she has fundraised for FORCE including a party weekend to celebrate the end of her main treatments, bucket collections, a Facebook birthday collection and through Amazon Smile.
She was diagnosed with Stage 4 or secondary breast cancer in February 2021. This means it has spread to other parts of her body - her liver, lungs, spine and ribs. It is no longer curable, but it is treatable.
Rachel has always stayed in touch with FORCE after making a number of friends and contacts through the charity.
FORCE launched a pilot programme for living with incurable cancer last spring and although newly diagnosed, Rachel signed up.
"If you consult Dr Google my diagnosis isn't great with a median life expectancy of two to five years,” she said.
“However, it is important to be realistic but also understand that as individuals, we are not a statistic and there is a lot of life to live. The course at FORCE helped me find the tools to look forward.
“I believe in giving back where I can and also want to show others that you can live well with secondary breast cancer.
“I went through six more rounds of chemotherapy last year. I am on daily tablets and have one targeted therapy injection every three weeks and a bone strengthener every six weeks.
“So far I am stable. I have ongoing scans every four to five months to check so cancer is always in your mind, but FORCE and new fundraising projects help me to push it towards the back of my mind."
In the past Rachel has taken part in tandem parachute jumps and a 100km Thames Path walk. This year, however, she has allowed husband to Mark decide their next challenge.
"Our toes are still black from the 100km walk, which was on my birthday. So, I knew that wasn't an option!” he said.
“I wanted to combine a challenge and make memories. In the past we had looked at events like the Mongol Rally but with Rachel's ongoing treatment this isn't possible as it takes 12 weeks.
“Then I found a fantastic alternative in this cross-Europe rally to Prague.”
Daisy the taxi is 20 years old and was sprayed white before the couple bought her. They are fitting a passenger seat in the front, normally just luggage space, and admit that when you get closer there is ‘a bit of rust’ that needs looking at.
“Fortunately, she has had an engine swap at some point and been fitted with a manual gear box. This should make going over the Alps a bit easier but she will be slow!” said Mark.
The couple are looking for sponsorship – there is plenty of room on Daisy for corporate stickers – and will also be running sweepstakes on how many miles they’ll travel, what the meter reading will be (yes, she still has a working meter), their lap time of the Nürburgring and a few other questions.
You can sponsor Mark and Rachel via their online giving page
