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From Flamborough to Blackpool: The Morley Family’s Vintage Tractor Challenge for Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
For the Morley family, fundraising isn’t a one-off effort- it’s something they take on together, sleeves rolled up, rain or shine. This April, that family spirit will be back on the road as Callum Morley, his brother Tom, their dad Brian, and close family members take on a unique vintage tractor challenge, travelling 320 miles from Flamborough Head to Blackpool in support of Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity.
The challenge will see the team drive a convoy of mid-1960s vintage tractors across the country over three days, swapping speed for scenery and turning heads along the way. While these tractors may be old- their fundraising efforts will bring new hop for the hundreds of families who are impacted by a brain tumour diagnosis across Yorkshire.
A proper Yorkshire family effort
The fundraising team is made up of three generations of the Morley family. Callum (23), a quantity surveyor, is joined by his brother Tom (38), a landscaper, and their dad Brian (66), a building contractor. Tom’s partner Lauren and their young son Alfie will also be part of the journey, alongside Jennifer Morley, who her experience working in a doctor’s surgery has helped prepare her for- as she puts it- being the “IT support” and cheerleader for the team.
Based in and around Driffield, Bridlington and Pocklington, the family proudly describe themselves as a “proper Yorkshire family,” close-knit and used to pulling together when it matters.
Not their first tractor challenge
This isn’t the Morleys’ first ambitious fundraising adventure. Two years ago, they completed an even bigger feat: driving two vintage tractors from John O’Groats to Land’s End in just five days, raising funds for three charities along the way.
“This one is almost the opposite,” Callum explains. “We’ve done top to bottom- now we’re going east to west.”
Starting at Flamborough Head, close to home, and finishing in Blackpool (which Callum describes as an “iconic location”) felt like the perfect fit. And while this challenge is shorter, it’s been deliberately chosen to be not only more relaxed but also to be a proper Northern experience!
“We want people to be able to come and see us pass through,” Callum says. “We want time for photos, conversations, and to actually enjoy it.”
Why Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity?
The decision to support Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity is rooted in the family’s own experiences.
“One of the lads taking a tractor with us recently lost his father-in-law to a brain tumour,” Callum explains. “And my uncle lost his son at just 18.”
Like so many families, brain tumours have touched their lives- and those around them- more than once. Supporting a local Yorkshire charity, and seeing first-hand the impact it has on families across the region, made the decision an easy one.
Callum told us: “it’s a Yorkshire charity- and it’s good to see the work the charity does. We’re really keen to see the outcome of what we’re hoping to achieve going towards helping other families”. Jennifer adds: “It gives the challenge real meaning… Even if what we do helps just one person, that’s worth it.”
Vintage tractors, modern problems
The tractors themselves date back to the 1960s, and while they’re simple machines, they still come with their own risks.
“If you can’t fix it with a spanner,” Callum jokes, “it’s probably knackered anyway.”
Thankfully, the family has enough mechanical know-how between them to handle most running repairs- and they’re hoping any family tension will be far outweighed by teamwork, humour, and a shared goal.
“Just go for it”
When asked what advice they’d give to other families thinking about taking on a fundraising challenge, Callum doesn’t hesitate.
“Get cracked on. Go at it with both feet,” she says. “If you start dwelling on the ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, you’ll never do anything. If you put your mind to it, just go and do it.”
It’s advice clearly shaped by experience- including driving vintage tractors through snow, rain and sub-zero temperatures on previous challenges.
Every bit of support matters
As the family prepares to set off, they’re hugely grateful for the support they’ve already received- and for anything still to come.
“Whether it’s a donation, sharing our page, or just spreading the word, it all helps,” Callum says. “It all makes a difference.”
The Morley family’s Flamborough to Blackpool tractor challenge is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when family, community and purpose come together- even at 15 miles per hour.
You can support Callum, Jennifer and the Morley family by donating to their JustGiving page and following their journey as they roll across the country for Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity.
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