A COUPLE from Badshot Lea will take their Maserati Gran Turismo on a three-and-a-half thousand mile grand tour of Europe this week in aid of the armed forces charity SSAFA.

Stuart Stinson, owner of Sequoia Landscapes Ltd, and his wife Julia will embark on their epic nine-day journey tomorrow (Friday) joining 50 other cars making up this year’s SSAFA Rally for Heroes team.

The first leg of their trip will see them tackle the Top Gear track at Dunsfold aerodrome before taking in Belgium, the Swiss Alps, Italy and the Fiat factory in Turin, a two-day stop off in Monaco, the Pyranees and Spain, and finally France before arriving back in the UK.

Each participant will fund their own travel costs, meaning every penny raised will contribute towards SSAFA’s practical, emotional and financial support to anyone who is serving or has ever served with the British Armed Forces and their families.

Stuart and Julia have already raised more than £2,600 via their online fundraising page virgin

moneygiving.com/team/stinson and in total it is hoped the 2016 Rally for Heroes will exceed the £100,000 raised during the last event in 2014.

Stuart told The Herald: “I came across the Rally for Heroes team a couple of years ago at the Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham and signed up not really knowing what I was letting myself in for.

“I’m a bit of a petrol head and it seemed like a good idea at the time, to take part in a rally and enjoy my hobby at the same time as raising awareness and fundraising for SSAFA. And in the last six months it’s really taken off.

“We’ve been to several fundraising events and have gotten to know quite a lot of the other people taking part, many of whom have lost people and have got a connection to the military.”

Stuart has owned the V8 Maserati super car for two-and-a-half years, which he has had professional signed especially for the rally.