Twelve determined climbers recently took on the tough Three Peaks Challenge for the Paul O’Gorman Leukemia Research centre and Cab Direct was there to lend a helping hand.
The National Three Peaks Challenge is steadily becoming a well-known phrase amongst the more adventurous.  It involves climbing the 3 highest mountains in the UK within 24 hours.  The steep peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon total a staggering 11,180 vertical feet and climbers are against the clock!
Matt Sinclair, the team leader of the group was diagnosed with the rare form of cancer, Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in 2005 and wanted to complete the challenge for the University of Glasgow Trust for the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre.
The £3 million centre, based at Glasgow University campus, was opened in May this year and provides advanced facilities and equipment for clinicians and researchers to translate laboratory findings into new treatments for leukaemia patients.
The group had planned their trip for the 21st of June this year but were having problems sourcing suitable transport for the event.  Allied Vehicles, Cab Direct’s parent company,  saved the day and not only provided one of their accessible minibuses printed with impressive graphics, but also an enthusiastic driver, Sales Director Peter Facenna.
The group left for the Scottish Highlands on the 21st of June as planned and began their climb of Ben Nevis at 4pm before making their journey to England, commencing their climb of Scafell at 3am.  Braving the treacherous rain and gale force winds of 65mph the group just managed to reach Wales and take on Snowdon with the last man finishing with just minutes to spare!
The team returned home blistered and bruised but thankfully no serious injuries were sustained during the trip.  The target for the challenge was to raise £6000 for the Paul O’Gorman Centre but the target was smashed with a total of £15,750 being raised between the group.

Commenting on the challenge Matt Sinclair said: “I’m very glad that we took on this tough challenge and made it.  My legs certainly felt pain for the following week but because of this challenge, £15,750 will now go to the new Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Facility in Scotland, where people with Leukaemia all over the world will benefit.  I would like to thank Peter and Cab Direct as without them we couldn’t have done it.”
Cab Direct were delighted that they could help out the group.  Sales Director Peter Facenna commented: “Driving the climbers around for long hours was tough and the weather certainly took its toll on all of us but myself and Cab Direct were delighted to support Matt and the team for such a worthy cause. Well done to all who took part!”
Cab Direct supplied the jumbo Ford Transit minibus with tailgate for the challenge which is just one of many vehicles available from their extensive accessible range.

To find out more on Cab Direct’s minibus range freephone 0800 916 3058, email info@cabdirect.com or visit www.cabdirect.com
 

Russell Brigden from Chelmsford is the proud owner of the new Peugeot E7 SE from Cab Direct and is delighted with his choice.  Russell, who opted for the long wheelbase model comments: “I love the new style E7.  How the taxi looks is important and for me the new body shape is just excellent.”

And not only does New E7 look the part, comfort levels are second to none too as Russell has noticed.  He says: “The driver comfort is superb.  The adjustable seat really does make a difference - with the height and tilt adjustments and additional lumbar support you can get the seat exactly as you want it.  I find I don’t end my shift feeling as tired.”

Russell is also impressed with New E7’s space.  Today’s passengers often come with plenty of luggage and being able to accommodate this is crucial for the modern day driver.  That’s why New E7 brings you an amazing 70% more luggage capacity.  Even better, the celebrated EasySlide™ rear seat allows you to create even more space for loading cases out of the way.  And now with the option of the E7 plus, the long wheelbase model offering even greater room, you are sure to be able to cater for every fare.  Russell says:  “The space is phenomenal – really excellent for airport runs.  And my customers have noticed it too.  I’ve had lots of positive feedback.”

Russell, who previously owed a TX11, also finds the E7 to be first class in terms of affordability.  He explains:  “I do a combination of town and urban driving and economy wise, the E7 is much better than the TX11.  It’s unbelievable – the E7 is much bigger and yet it’s far more economical.  And with the larger tank it’s a win win situation all round - not only do you get more to the gallon but you need to fill up even less. It’s ideal for me and really great value for money.”

Russell couldn’t be happier with his new taxi and is seeing a lot of green eyes from other drivers and his area.  And he is only too happy to recommend the E7.  Not only that, he adds:  I was very pleased with the speed of delivery.  The service from Cab Direct has been excellent.”

Why not find out for yourself?

For further information on New E7 freephone 0800 916 3058, email info@cabdirect.com or visit www.cabdirect.com
 

A taxi driver who branched out into a more profitable line as a drugs courier has had his criminal lifestyle brought to a halt by Appeal Court judges.

Parvinder Singh Panesar, of Montague Avenue, Oakwood, Leeds, faces losing his home after the court in London hit him with a confiscation bill totalling more than £180,000.

Judge Michael Stokes QC ruled a judge had let Panesar off far too lightly when he ordered him to pay just £30,687, saying it would be unjust to make him pay any more.

Panesar argued his lifestyle was due not to his involvement in the drugs world but to his hard work as a self-employed taxi driver, six or seven days a week.

He said that his income as a cabbie was much greater than he had declared to Revenue and Customs.

But Judge Stokes said Panesar had paid off part of the mortgage on a previous home using £8,600 in cash "tainted" by drugs.

Sale

The money from selling that home had been ploughed into buying the Montague Avenue property, now valued at almost £200,000.

And, strictly applying laws designed to strip drug dealers of their ill-gotten gains, the judge said Panesar stood to lose every penny of equity he had in his home.

Panesar admitted conspiring to supply class A drugs when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court in October 2005. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years and later hit with the £30,687 confiscation bill.

However, prosecutors took the case to London's Criminal Appeal Court arguing Panesar had lived "a criminal lifestyle" and had not been ordered to pay anything like enough.

Judge Stokes, sitting with Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Mr Justice Plender, on Friday agreed, upping Panesar's bill to over £180,000 – including the £150,000 equity in his home.

Panesar had admitted his crime on the basis that he had, a few times, driven a drug dealer from Leeds to Bradford and had once agreed to store 1kg of heroin at his home. He had also been involved in "bagging up" drugs.

Judge Stokes said the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 demanded that Panesar be stripped of "the whole of the equity" in his home as the price of his involvement in the drugs trade.

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Drugtrade-Leeds-cabbie-faces-180000.4305436.jp