Palletline To The Rescue!
Mark Newton is on one of the longest journeys of his life – the injured ex-soldier is travelling round coastal Britain on a mobility scooter for charity. When disaster struck, Mark found help from an unexpected source – palletised freight distribution specialist ‘Palletline’.
Mark has collected more than £10,000 so far in support of his old regiment, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, as well as the Royal British Legion, The Royal National Lifeboat Institute, SSAFA, and Help for Heroes.
However, Mark’s 10,000 mile journey was put on indefinite hold around the 2,500 mile mark when his scooter broke down on one of the UK’s highest coastal roads, in Applecross in The Scottish Highlands.
The vehicle was beyond Mark’s repair and had to shipped back to Beamer, the manufacturers in Salisbury.
After phoning around, Mark was unable to find anyone that could transport the scooter from Salisbury. It had already taken three weeks to get there!
The Royal British Legion Riders Branch asked its members if they knew anyone who could help – setting in motion a chain of events that would eventually include no less than four companies across the UK.
Truck driver Phil Mulholland answered the call, putting Mark in touch with Palletline member HMT Shipping, which in turn notified the palletised distribution network. Two members Hampshire based Lambert Brothers and Inverness based HH Distribution were only happy to help and handle the delivery.
Within just a few days Mark’s scooter was delivered free of charge, by HH Distribution’s delivery partner Skye Express – which made a special trip outside of normal rounds.
Mark said: “I’d broken down up a 2,500ft high road, surrounded by some beautiful scenery but not a lot else. I was prepared to be hanging around for some time, to say the least!
I’m extremely grateful to Palletline and everyone involved for helping me get moving again – I can’t think of any way I’d have done it otherwise.”
For more information on Mark’s worthy cause, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/aroundbritain
