Helen Hyland, Fundraising Manager, ME Association.
The ME Association is thrilled to announce The Karmann Ghia Owners Club (GB) as our first ever Charity Partner.
The Club is a long-established classic car club that works hard to be inclusive of all individuals and to ensure that it connects to the public in the most positive manner. It was started in August 1982 by Andy and Theresa Holmes who were keen to encourage interest in these elegant classic cars.
The club provides networking opportunities for owner enthusiasts and helps fellow members to find rare replacement parts for their cars. It hosts an annual International Meeting for enthusiasts and members represent it at events across Europe, and now boasts well over 500 members.
The club’s first fundraising activity will take place on the club display stand at the Stanford Hall VW Show near Lutterworth on 5th May. This is likely to be the largest display of Karmann Ghia’s in UK this year, with over 50 cars expected.
The Club has plans for a number of wacky fundraisers including asking visitors to guess how many ME Association balloons fit in a Karmann Ghia! To follow their fundraising exploits, please visit The Karmann Ghia Owners Club JustGiving page.
The choice of charity was no accident as the Club’s past Chairman's son had this awful illness as a teenager and one of the founding members has had M.E. since 2005.
Club Founder, Andy Holmes is now the Honorary President. He says,
“We have seen how M.E. affects lives and wanted to put our efforts into raising funds to support research and provide support for the many individuals who suffer from the condition.”
Neil Riley, Chairman of the ME Association said, “We are thrilled to be entering into this 3-year charity partnership with the Karmann Ghia Owners Club (GB). This is our very first charity partnership, but hopefully will be the first of many.”
“M.E. is an invisible illness, so it is wonderful that the club will be doing all that it can to raise visibility, awareness and funds to help support those whose lives have been so devastated because of it.”
The ME Association
Please support our vital work
We are a national charity working hard to make the UK a better place for people whose lives have been devastated by an often-misunderstood neurological disease.
If you would like to support our efforts – particularly during ME Awareness Week – and help ensure we can continue to inform, support, advocate and invest in biomedical research, then please donate today.
Just click the image opposite and visit our JustGiving page for one-off donations, to establish a regular payment or to create your own fundraising event.
Or why not join the ME Association as a member and be part of our growing community? For a monthly (or annual) subscription you will also receive our exclusive ME Essential magazine.
ME Association Registered Charity Number 801279