Charity Grey Fergie Challenge

Posted 27 March 2012

A group of students from Harper Adams University College are planning to travel the length and breadth of the country on a vintage Massey Ferguson tractor to raise money for charity.

The Grey Fergie Challenge sees the six friends take it in turns to complete the 2,000 mile journey, which starts at Dover Castle and stops off at Land’s End, John O’Groats and culminates at sponsor AGCO’s headquarters, Stoneleigh.

The group has chosen a 10-mile per hour Ferguson TE20 for the challenge and together they hope to raise £10,000 for Help For Heroes.

19-year-old Sean Nixon from Somerset came up with the idea. He said: “I’ve always wanted to travel around the country and do a tractor tour so thought, why not combine the two?

“It’s going to be a challenge, two to three weeks of sleeping at campsites and using a gas stove, but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Three of us own Massey Ferguson tractors and we thought that a little grey Fergie is iconic. Now we’re searching for the perfect one, but we will be having support vehicles in case we have any break downs.”

Sean is being joined by David Tumilty from East Yorkshire, Richard Nelms from Buckinghamshire, Sam Langley from Kent, Andrew Mitchell from Warwickshire and Michael Brown from Derbyshire.

They are all first year students at Harper Adams in Shropshire and live together in student accommodation. If possible, they hope to visit all of their home towns during the trip.

Sean, who is studying BSc (Hons) Agri-Business, added: “We chose to raise money for Help for Heroes because it is such a worthy cause and something that we all believe in.

“We’re being sponsored by a variety of companies, including AGCO, but welcome any form of support be it sponsorship or donations.

“Once this is over, I’m hoping to repeat the experience, but in a tank!”

The group is planning to set off on June 17. To find out more, visit www.grey-fergie.co.uk or contact sean via e-mail - 10033800@live.harper.ac.uk