Tim McNulty
RIVAL British football fans have teamed up for a rally car race to Benidorm in support of a teenager battling cancer
The ‘Benidorm or Bust’ charity rally has been organised by friends and family of 19-year-old Joe Hardman, from Brandon, County Durham, who has leukaemia.
Followers of Sunderland and Newcastle have put aside their differences and will race to the Costa Blanca resort in cars painted in their team’s colours.
Family friend and toon fan, Neil Carr said: “Joe and his dad support Sunderland and the rest of us support Newcastle but we’re bringing the teams together.
“It’s all about raising money for the children’s cancer ward at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where Joe had most of his treatment.
“We’ve always been to Benidorm on a plane and come back on a plane so we don’t know what to expect.”
Joe has been recovering after a stem cell transplant, following a donation from his younger sister Grace and now hopes to return to college.
His mum Joanne said: “It’s just giving something back for everything they’ve done for us and to make it a bit easier for other families and children if they end up in there, like we did.”
