THE second annual running of the Lessian Motors Ilkley Rally and Run raised a record amount for its chosen beneficiary, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

On the day, participants drove their vintage, classic, and performance cars over 100 miles of the Yorkshire Dales’ most remote and challenging roads. Along with a small entry fee and the sale of food and drink, the event raised over £1,200 for charity.

Starting at 11am, participants gathered at Ilkley Rugby Club to sign-on and receive their route instructions. They then navigated their way to Kettlewell where a much needed lunchtime refuel for the drivers and passengers was taken, on a gloriously sunny day.

After lunch, the route took the cars to Hawes, Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Malham, before looping back to Ilkley. The day ended with successful completion of the run by 95 cars back at the Ilkley Rugby Club, where drivers and passengers enjoyed a barbecue and live music into the evening.

Gerard Simpson, Director of Ilkley’s Lessian Motors and organiser of the run said: “Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity and centre of excellence in training hearing dogs to alert deaf people to everyday household sounds and danger signals. It’s a very worthy cause, so we are delighted to have already raised such an amount. I would like to thank everyone who helped make the run a great success, including all the people who helped organise the event, and the participants who gave up their time and money for such a worthy cause. We are already planning next year’s event and looking forward to an even better Ilkley Rally and Run in summer 2017.”