Organisers and participants of A Driving Force 2026 (ADF26) have just returned from their epic 11-day driving adventure which took place between 1-11 August 2026, which has so far raised over £114,000 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity to support serving personnel, veterans, and their families.
A Driving Force 2026 is a biennial charity driving event and saw 52 cars and support vehicles travel some 3,000 miles across 10 countries, bringing together drivers, navigators, organisers, support crews, and fundraisers for an adventure combining unforgettable roads and destinations with a shared commitment to the Armed Forces community.
Beginning in Dunkirk and travelling through Europe to Sarajevo in Bosnia and back. Here are some of the vital statistics:
• £114,000 raised for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity (and still going…)
• 3,000 miles driven
• 52 vehicles took part
• 10 countries crossed
• 500 hotel rooms slept in
• 750 car parking spaces used along the way
• More than 500 croissants consumed
• Countless wrong turns by teams that added to the adventure
• Number of photos taken – we lost count, but we all have memories to last forever
• No speeding tickets!
The route began with a drumhead ceremony at the Dunkirk Memorial, honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, before drivers took on some of Europe’s most memorable roads, including Alpine passes, the Adriatic Coast Road, the onward journey to Sarajevo and then back again through Austria, Germany and Belgium.
With support from the British Embassy, participants enjoyed a 52-car police escort form the Croatian border to Sarajevo via Mostar where the heat was 47 degrees! Whilst in Sarajevo, the team from the British Embassy helped organise what can only be described as a UK car meet on steroids outside the British Embassy itself, where the atmosphere was electrifying and the local people came in their droves to see the vehicles.
The convoy’s journey combined remembrance, camaraderie, and fundraising, with participants from across the UK coming together to support SSAFA’s work with the Armed Forces community. SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2024, their trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 54,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.
Since 1885, they have provided welfare and wellbeing assistance that is tailored to our Armed Forces community. They know about the unique demands of service life, whether in the UK or overseas, and they continue to meet the demand for support enabling the entire Armed Forces community to thrive. And they are there for that person and their family, any time they need them and in any way they need them to make sure they never battle alone. More information can be found at ssafa.org.uk
Air Marshall Steve Shell, SSAFA’s CEO, spoke on behalf of the charity, saying:
“Attending the drumhead ceremony at the Dunkirk Memorial was a profoundly moving way to mark the start of ADF26. Dunkirk reminds us of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds between allies, while the onward route to Sarajevo and back reflects how service continues to shape lives across generations.
“ADF26 was not only a tremendous fundraiser for SSAFA, but also an act of remembrance, gratitude, and action making sure that those who serve, and their families, are never forgotten.
“My sincere thanks go to the organisers and everyone who took part.”
Keith Marriott, a SSAFA trustee and a former Royal Army Medical Corps Warrant Officer, also took part in ADF26. He said:
“What an adventure. Having set out from Dunkirk after a very moving ceremony of remembrance in sight of those infamous beaches, we began our epic journey with a huge variety of cars, each one of them the pride and joy of their petrolhead owners.
“For me personally, the thrill of driving my Ferrari F8 Spider with 100 like-minded people, who very quickly became friends, across Europe, taking on high-speed autobahns, the twists of great Alpine passes such as the Grossglockner High Alpine Pass, and the incredibly scenic Adriatic Coast Road, was a true privilege and a joy.
“But arriving in Sarajevo served as a very real reminder of the cost of war and why we were all taking part. The battle scars, both physical and those still burnt into the memories of the citizens of that beautiful city, and of UK veterans of the Bosnian War, demonstrate only too well the need for a charity such as SSAFA, which is there to ensure that no member of our Armed Forces, or their families, faces challenges alone.
“The funds raised by ADF26 will help ensure that SSAFA can remain alongside our Armed Forces and their families when they need us most. Roll on 2028!”
Started by two ex-serving members of HM Forces Benn Laidler MBE and Steve Shaw MA, FCILT, CMCIPD, Directors of A Driving Force, witnessed first-hand the hardship and devastation suffered by casualties of military conflict. Since 2012, they have raised over £850,000 for many charities supporting military personnel through Rally for Heroes and A Driving Force. For 2026, this enormously successful campaign has set its sights on reaching a cumulative £1 million target of fundraising and 1 million miles of travel!
Benn Laidler MBE, Director of A Driving Force, said:
“It was a pleasure and honour to provide the opportunity to give this amazing group of people the experience of a lifetime, whilst raising a cracking amount of money for a very, very worthwhile charity.”
Steve Shaw MA, FCILT, CMCIPD, Director of A Driving Force said:
“Whilst combat operations have now ceased, our country must deal with the aftermath of 20 years of operations in the Middle East. As we conducted this event, we paid tribute to the hundreds of people who made the ultimate sacrifice on operations. Just as importantly our fundraising is aimed at sustaining people and their families who suffered life changing injuries.”
“Even though I’ve been involved in these biennial charity driving events since 2012, the energy from participants taking part never ceases to amaze me and neither does the effect is has on them on what is often described by them, as a life-changing adventure.”
“Having smashed our target of raising £100,000 for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity and we are still fundraising, we know that this money makes an incredible difference to the important work that SSAFA does for our Armed Forces and their families.”
“There is still time to donate, as we will be fundraising for this 2026 event until the end of the year, which will hopefully help us achieve that magical £1million cumulative goal – all funds go directly to SSAFA. Any donation is very much appreciated.”
To donate to our 2026 event, visit: https://ssafa.enthuse.com/cf/a-driving-force-for-ssafa-2026
