Ford Backs Charity Dash Visiting Every UK Car Dealership

Ford of Britain has joined this year's Bush2 Dealer 6000 event as one of the sponsors enabling fundraisers for motor industry charity BEN to get round all UK car dealers in a week.

Ford has supported BEN, the industry's benevolent fund for employees past and present, for more than 90 years. The company made its first donation of 10 guineas cash in 1914. The 36,250 employees of Ford of Britain and its dealer network are beneficiaries of the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund - or BEN for short.

December's Bush2 Dealer 6000 run is being organised by industry consultants David and Gordon Bush for December 5 - 9. In its centenary year BEN will benefit from donations made to the band of supporters descending over five days on all 6,000 dealers in the country.

Five fundraisers will be driving all-new Ford Focus estate cars. At 475 litres in volume, the car's bootspace boasts more than enough room to accommodate the volunteers' promotional material and equipment. Ford has supplied three diesel and two petrol versions of the Focus - Britain's top selling car. Ford Motor Company-owned brands Jaguar and Volvo are also supplying five cars each for the Bush2 Dealer 6000 fleet.

Roger Putnam, Ford of Britain chairman and a BEN vice president, said: "For more than 10 years I have been a BEN Centurion, which is a title given to the fund's closest supporters. BEN does great work and has provided a lot of help and succour to Ford employees and their families, and colleagues in the whole industry, over many years. I urge all people visiting and working in dealers to look out for Bush2 Dealer 6000 in early December and give as generously as possible."

Bush2 Dealer 6000 launches on November 30 at the Copthorne Hotel Effingham Park, Gatwick. The Ford Focus line-up will be flanked by two stars of the company's heritage collection - a 1969 Ford GT40 and its 2005 successor, the new Ford GT. TV presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson will wave off all sponsors' cars from the venue as they head off to the different dealer areas.

Last year's Bush2 pilot run raised over £20,000 by visiting 4,270 franchised dealers. "This year the event is going to be even bigger with more sponsors and more manufacturers participating. We will be visiting a greater number of dealers to meet our aim of raising more money," said David Bush, Bush2 marketing director.