To Barca and back in a banger - and it's all for the BHF

Fundraising friends Stuart Heslington and Garry Bletcher are getting ready to drive an old banger from Sheffield to Barcelona and back in just eight days to raise money for us.

The duo don't know if their 1989 Volkswagen Scirocco (pictured above) - which they paid just £175 for - will be up to the job of covering the 2,500 mile round-trip journey. It's been standing idle and unloved for years, but they've been working hard on getting it up to scratch.

Stuart and Garry have spent months repairing the car, replacing engine parts, tyres and brakes on a shoestring. And to make sure they make a real impact they've have even gone to the trouble of creating a Hawaiian theme, painting the car with palm trees and a parrot.

Stuart, 37, a primary school caretaker, was inspired to help us after he lost his dad Norman to a heart attack at the age of just 43.

"I heard about the challenge and it's an ideal way to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. I lost my dad to heart disease when I was young and wanted to help this charity save other lives at risk," he said.

"I have completed the Sheffield half marathon in the past to raise money and this time we hope to raise £500.

"The car's done 150,000 miles which is quite a way. It sounds more like a diesel than a petrol. There's quite a risk involved - it's a long way for an old banger. But it will be nice for the old car to go out with a bang rather than being taken to the scrapyard."

Stuart and Gary will start the journey this Friday (22 May) in Calais.

You can sponsor them now at justgiving.com/stuartheslington

What's the most 'extreme' thing you've done to raise money for the BHF? Tell us about it by posting a comment below...