DEVIZES Lions president Roger Stratton is to take part in a marathon drive in his classic car to raise money for three charities to celebrate the centenary of Lions International.

Mr Stratton will be driving his 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite known as Oskar because of its OSK 800 number plate in the JOGLE. The catchy acronym has been created to represent John O Groats to Lands End.

He will leave Devizes Market Place on September 5 and all being well will return home on September 15. Along the way he will be collecting for charities chosen by Devizes Lions.

Sponsorship and a guess the fuel used competition will raise money for a fund set up in memory of past president Gordon Straker's wife Helen which backs both Dorothy House at Winsley and the Royal United Hospital's Forever Friends Appeal in Bath. Cash will also go to the Air Ambulance Base Appeal.

Mr Stratton will be welcomed at the end of the JOGLE at the home of Mr Straker in Potterne where home at a clay pigeon shoot will also be held for the Helen Straker Charity.

Mr Stratton had a surprise last week when he visited Dorothy House and met Peter Healey grandson of Donald Healey who created the Donald Healey Motor Company which designed my car.

He said: "Having got over the shock, I asked him if he would flag us away at the start, which he has agreed to do."

Mr Healey, who is a volunteer gardener at the hospice and works there every Tuesday, was delighted to hear about Mr Stratton's adventure.

Devizes Lions are also marking the centenary by funding at least five defibrillators in the town centre. Mr Stratton said: "This project is almost completed, and meets a need.

"Many local villages have had 24/7 access defibs for a while, now, but all of the ones in Devizes were only available during 'office hours'. Having established there was this need, we have almost got funding for all five and they will be fixed in suitable town centre locations over the coming few weeks."