From Carlisle to the Sahara! A family adventure for Team Evie
From Carlisle to the Sahara!
A family adventure for Team Evie
by Danni Murphy
A Cumbrian family is preparing to embark on the adventure of a lifetime — driving 8,500 miles from Carlisle to Dakar, Senegal, and back — all to raise funds for the incredible local charity Team Evie.
The Sahara Desert Challenge will see Mike Minns who owns Castle Framing in Brampton, his sons Josh and Tom, and their partners Georgia and Amelia, travel across Europe and through the vast sands of the Sahara Desert in two vehicles over a gruelling 25-day journey.
“The challenge is something I wanted to do with my two sons,” said Mike. “I came across it whilst looking for a trip that would be both challenging and rewarding — something we could all do together as a family.”
Josh, an electrical engineer, and Tom, who serves in the Armed Forces Tank Regiment, are both keen adventurers, as are Georgia, a digital merchandiser, and Amelia, a student children’s nurse. Together, the group will face desert driving, camping, and rally-style stages — a true test of both endurance and teamwork. But this isn’t just about adventure — it’s about making a difference.
“As we believe it’s going to be tough but also exciting, we felt it would be worthwhile trying to support a local charity,” explained Mike. “We chose Team Evie because my wife works in the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in Carlisle and has seen first-hand how the charity helps new parents.”
Team Evie, based in Cockermouth, was founded in memory of baby Evie, who sadly passed away. The charity works tirelessly to support sick children and their families across Cumbria and the North East, from pregnancy through hospital stays and beyond. They provide comfort packs, peer support, and family resources, as well as funding vital hospital projects.
“Team Evie give so much to the unit,” said Mike. “They’ve redecorated the parents’ rooms to make them more homely and relaxing, provided parent bags and peer support, and even help run the monthly baby group at Tullie House. Without their support, none of this would be available to parents and families.”
The team has set up both a Facebook page and a Team Evie sponsorship page, where they plan to share updates, photos, and stories from their journey.
“We’ll be posting as much as we can as we go,” added Mike. “We’d be so grateful for any support, every donation, big or small, will help us go that extra mile (and there’ll be plenty of them in the desert!).”
You can support Mike and his team, and follow their journey by visiting their fundraising page: www.teamevie.enthuse.com/pf/mike-minns
Follow their Facebook page for regular updates: Cumbrian Desert Voyagers Sahara Desert Challenge
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