A four-man team from the King of Prussia in Heanor has completed a 1,300-mile charity driving challenge from the UK to Benidorm – despite experiencing car trouble while crossing the Pyrenees.
Pub operator Martin Davidson was joined by regulars Luke, Dale and James for the 2026 Rat Run, which challenges teams to reach the Spanish resort in a car worth no more than £600.
The five-day journey took the team from the UK through Dover before continuing through France, with stops at Dunkirk, Rouen and Bordeaux. They then crossed the Pyrenees into Spain and travelled through Zaragoza before reaching Benidorm.
However, the team’s Nissan Almera did not complete the entire journey.
Problems came to a head in the Pyrenees when the car’s second gear struggled with the mountain roads. The team subsequently swapped vehicles with fellow participants from Liverpool who were raising money for a family affected by multiple sclerosis.
The connection was particularly meaningful because one of Martin’s close friends also lives with MS and receives the same infusion treatment.
Martin said: “I’ve wanted to do something like the Rat Run for years and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. We had some really important causes to raise money for, so we thought – why not?
“We knew taking an old Nissan all the way to Benidorm wasn’t going to be straightforward, but I don’t think any of us expected to end up swapping cars halfway there.
“When we discovered the other team was raising money because one of their daughters has MS, it really struck a chord with us.
“A close friend of mine has MS and receives the same infusion treatment, so there was something very fitting about us taking their car home.
“The whole trip was incredible. We underestimated the fuel, definitely underestimated the tolls and probably overestimated the Nissan – but we wouldn’t change a thing.”
The challenge raised hundreds of pounds for several causes, including the pub’s local football team, the air ambulance and Kian, a local man who needs to travel to India for treatment for a grade-four brain tumour called a glioblastoma.
A number of local businesses supported the team through sponsorship.
The four fundraisers represented different parts of life at the King of Prussia. Martin runs the pub with Chloe, while Dale is a regular and treasurer of the pub’s football team. Luke is its matchday manager, and James served as the team’s “cheerleader”.
After completing the challenge, the participating teams received a police escort through Benidorm.
James and Dale flew back to the UK on the Sunday, leaving Martin and Luke to drive their newly acquired car from Spain to Heanor.
Following several stops on the journey home, the pair arrived back at the King of Prussia to a welcome from their families, the pub team, customers and supporters.
Martin added: “The support we had from the pub, our customers, sponsors, friends and families was brilliant.
“The King of Prussia is a proper community pub and this was one of those mad ideas that brought everyone together. It was Chloe’s fantastic organisation skills that helped make it happen.
“There were times when we wondered whether we’d actually get there, and then whether we’d get home again, but that’s what made it such an adventure.
“Most importantly, we’ve been able to raise money and awareness for causes that genuinely mean something to us and the people around us.”
More than 200 teams reportedly participated in the September 2026 Rat Run, raising money for charities and community causes across the UK.
The King of Prussia team was supported by 47 Degree Coffee, Holt Roofing, Holt Scaffolding, MJ Meats, Boam Electrical, Sunny Side FC, Lift and Shift, Prussia FC, Millhouse Garage and Amber Taverns.
