A driving instructor is needing your support?

Yes. he’d like you to support him in his drive to raise money for three great charities.

While his destination is the wealthy enclave of Monaco, the journey is very much for those in need.

Call the ambulance

John Denholm would have been an ADI for nearly all of his life, except he was saved from that fate  by the NHS.

It’s not that he found himself in an ambulance being blue lighted to hospital, but a work opportunity took him on a different path.

“I first began training as an ADI  when I was 27 years old, I am now 55, so 28 years ago! ” says John.
“As I was doing my ADI training when I started a temporary job with the NHS at Queens Hospital in Burton upon Trent.”
Work with the NHS took over his priorities, and he ended up working for the national institution for over seven years. This then led to working for the civil service
“I moved back to my native North East in 2003 returning to my home town of Wallsend, just outside of Newcastle upon Tyne. Then, in 2018, I started my ADI training again with Pass N Go driving school.”
John passed his  Part 3 test in January 2019 becoming a fully fledged ADI.

 

Win after win

It may have taken some time to finally get there, but John  seems to have found his natural career.

This year he won his fourth award in the industry’s national, annual awards – The Intelligent Instructor Awards.

“In the five years of being an ADI, I am proud to say that for the last four years I have been awarded with Highly Commended in 2021 & 2022 the awarded Bronze in 2023 and 2024 for North East Driving Instructor of the year. ”

“A big thank you has to go to all my pupils who have nominated me, and my Pass&Go family.”

It is certainly an impressive run, especially so early in one’s career.

“I love everything about my job as an ADI especially when a pupil passes their driving test,” enthuses John.
“I love passing on 35 years of my driving skills to the next generation of young drivers. I love working in the North East and taking pupils on driving lessons along the beautiful North East Coast.  Everyday is amazing. There’s nothing to dislike about the job, honestly.”

On the grid

Despite his obvious love of the job, John Denholm is busy mapping out extra curricular plans.
This May he will be travelling all the way from Tyneside to the Monaco Grand Prix.

“I originally planned the drive for 2020, but due to Covid 19 the world stopped,” explains John.

“I am hoping to raise awareness and funds for several charities,  they are Prostate Cancer UK,  MIND and CASH FOR KIDS.

“Why these charities? I’ve personally been touched by Prostate Cancer.  When it comes to MIND, Covid lockdowns led a lot of people to suffer with mental health issues. Alongside this, my dear mum suffered from mental health issues for many years and she sadly passed away last year. This mental health charity does so much valuable work. Then looking more locally, CASH FOR KIDS is a Great North East Charity supporting underprivileged children and giving them all a Christmas present.”

Supporting such great charities is important at the best of times. But following the pandemic, and with an economic crisis affecting so many people financially and mentally, there is probably not been and more needy time for such support.

When it comes to Prostate Cancer, even the King is trying to raise awareness!

Navigation

The Monaco Grand Prix is on Sunday 26th May this year.

John will be beginning his drive on Thursday 23rd May.

“It is a total of 1,030 miles (approx) each way, points our John”

“I’ll be leaving Newcastle at 6am. Driving down to Dover for 1pm hopefully. Then it’s the ferry crossing over to Calais approx 3pm. Ferry crossing is 90 minutes. Once off the ferry it’s a 69 mile drive to our 1st night stopover in Arras, Northern France.

“Day 2 – Friday 24th May is another early start – 6am for a 687 mile drive from Arras to Nice in the South of France. This will take approx 12.5 hours.

“Saturday is Monaco Grand Prix Qualifies with the race day on Sunday 26th May. Monday will be a rest day and then the return journey starting Tuesday 28th May, again at 6am.

“Driving back to Arras in Northern France for the night, then up to Calais early the next morning, a ferry back to Dover, on on up to Newcastle upon Tyne.”

Busman’s holiday

While some of you may see this as a nice holiday, going by his track record as an ADI, it would be. worthy one at that.

But this is a much more worthy drive, one that can benefit so many others, perhaps even you.

It’s an impressive adventure that needs your support.

If you can donate any spare cash, then it is very easy to do by clicking on the link below.

We wish John the very best of luck and hope that he, and all of his charities, prove to winners at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Why not help by giving a little donation here.

Ladies and gentlemen, tart your engines.

Donate Here