Great story, but don't forget to donate some money.  Took me 2 minutes to go to the link and donate.

Contact: Alex Charlton
phone: 646 744 6926
email: [email protected]

THE AMERICAN JOB

Three men in Classic Mini Coopers drive 4,000 miles to raise funds for a boy’s surgery

Four year old Jack Sims, of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, needs surgery to enable him to walk, due to . Cerebral Palsy Spastic Deplegia. The cutting edge surgery can be performed at the Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, by Dr. Park, if enough funds can be raised. So three friends of the family have shipped their Classic Mini Coopers across the ocean, and are driving them about four thousand miles, raising funds as they go. The effort has snowballed, and the Mini Cooper community is taking them into their homes, setting up events as they come into cities, and escorting them along the route.

Inspired by the famous movie, The Italian Job, which featured (and, indeed, starred) three Classic Mini Coopers, these three inspiring men have started what will be the journey of a lifetime, to impact and improve the life of one small boy. Without their help, little Jack Sims will never walk without pain, or dance with a date, or play ball, or swim, as his twin brother can do. He will always be dependent on a walker, as his leg muscles continue to contract and tighten, month by month. With the surgery, his doctors have hopes that he can be made whole again. So Alex Charlton, Peter Price, and Dudley Brooke will drive in their tiny cars, asking Americans for help.

Beset by problems in the beginning due to an inept shipping agent, they have struggled to get their vintage Minis on the road. Upon arrival they were taken in by a volunteer 9/11 first responder in New Jersey, Larry Holloway. Larry has himself faced daunting obstacles ever since his rescue efforts on that terrible day, as his life continues to be impacted by health problems. However, he and his wife Jennifer opened their home, and offered their help to overcome a logistical nightmare. Although without the full time the Lads had hoped for, Larry finally got them on their way.

Their route takes them through Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Saint Louis, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; Tampa, Florida; Miami, Florida; Daytona Beach, Florida; Myrtle Beach, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Raleigh, South Carolina; and Washington, DC, before returning to New Jersey to fly home. Along the way, they will be meeting with individuals and groups who are organizing efforts on their own, to raise funds for Jack Sims and to spread the word about The American Job.

Their efforts, and the story of Jack, have energized the Mini Cooper community, and social media has gained them many followers.

www.theamericanjob.org
www.facebook.com/groups/theamericanjob/
Instagram: theamericanjob
Twitter: @theamericanjob

Jack’s donation page is: www.justgiving.com/theamericanjob/

Updates to the website now include:

Itinerary //www.theamericanjob.org/itinerary/ 

Contacts  //www.theamericanjob.org/contacts/

Press Release  //www.theamericanjob.org/press-release/

The Map is also updated with Pittsburgh and Dayton at //www.theamericanjob.org/map/

If you want to be listed on the site for something/anything, or have content you'd like to post send it to me at [email protected] . We're averaging 140 visitors per day just a few days after it went up.

OK they asked me to update. After some delays yesterday they got underway made it to Harrisburg no problem, then today off to Dayton and made it there no problems. Tomorrow they will be at the BL transport museum. Then off to Indy Thurs, and St. Louis Friday for press conf at hospital. They thank everyone for their support and will be plugging as many people who offered help into their route. If you go on their facebook page they have a spread sheet Joanie is doing with all the logistics to make it flow a little better for the guys as they have found their hands are full just by driving......Hey Hugh email me your address so I can pass it along to them. Thanks All. BC they are passing your way on way back up the coast. Charleston, Columbia SC then I think they'll be up your way.

well. if you  come down to NC..  will be glad to help..  later  bc

Nice! Thanks Bill! I need to look at a map and see if we can swing by , sorry for my delays ,web based forums on a phone are pretty tricky ! I'll endeavour to try and find your PM details .. 

Alex 

OK, I don't facebook, tweet, etc, but I see your itinerary takes you from Buffalo to

Columbus, So, if you need an overnight stop along the way I'm more than happy to

 offer lodging and meals. I'm in New Philadelphia, Ohio, which is about 70 miles south

of Cleveland and 100 miles northeast of Columbus, probably 4 to 4&1/2 hours from Buffalo,

depending on your route and speed.

 New Phila. is on Interstate 77, with other slower state routes between Cleveland and Columbus

if you don't want to drive the interstates. I've got a four bedroom home with three bedrooms empty

since my kids are all married and gone. Let me know, email is in profile or reply on the board.

Bill

Hi again guys , a kind gent in So Cal has set up a website for everyone to see everything on any platform , please see www.theamericanjob.org and all progress of donations , locations well-being and all can been seen on there and is updated regularly 

(thanks Todd Dunning) 

 

we are heading to the BTM in Ohio in the next few days , there was someone there to assist? If you would be so kind as to send me a PM and we can go from there . Thanks for your continued support guys, sorry I haven't been as active on here as I should have been but that website will help loads 

 

Alex 

I raced with Phil Wicks in my vintage Mini ask him about me at Summit Point... BC no fine it seems there was a work around.........lucky for the Lads.

 Just had a fine chat with Phil Wicks, Norm suggested him as a good contact having driven in the original Italian Job. 

Dr_Mini..  curious to know what the fine turned out to be in the end..?? CBP  is really fussy about  CBP 10 +2 ISF.. congrats for getting out of JAIL  ( aka manifest hold)  

News Flash: Mini's Just Cleared Customs Will Be Released From Jail Soon, Just Waiting on Final Truck to Bring Them Out of the Port.............

Looking at the Facebook site, it appears the Minis have finally been released from captivity ... " the container must be moved outside of the port then unloaded. Final destination will be Jackson, NJ at my place then they'll be off from here. Waiting on arrangements I guy bailed already speaking to backup #3 as we speak...."

It looks like Customs has released them and now they just need the container transported outside the port and unloaded ...

Bill C. that might very well be the end result, but it's determined on a case by case basis so let's hope for the best for the Lads. A special thanks to Willie_B for helping the boys out and taking immediate action so they don't have to worry while they wait for expense reimbursement from CMX.......Proud to know you, you're a stand up guy.

What an outstanding job guys.  So the UK shipping agent was contracted by CMX, and CMX is accepting liability, reimbursing losses, and making a donation as well?  All thanks to Larry, Bill and the rest.

To get their latest updates go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theamericanjob  - it should be viewable even if you don't Facebook.

This will be the biggest story in the US mini community for years as it continues to snowball, and the lads finally start out across the country.

Correct they already filed this as a hardship case considering the intent and time constraints surrounding the event. So lets hope they do show a little compassion and move things forward: Bill C. I heard the UK agent on the phone he was both drunk and stoned, never have I run across someone left in charge of company operations who was so incompetent. Thankfully he's peddling his wares elsewhere now......

I have never used this port but if they do get the paperwork sorted the wait time for inspections and releases on Mini's and Land Rovers was averaging 2 - 6 weeks due to lack of inspectors and the scutiny they are under in some ports. Lets hope the "officials" will show a little compassion for the cause and speed things up.

they did NOT file US CUSTOMS 10 + 2 ISF.. two day in ADVANCE to boat leaving ??? 

OK, So last night following an barrage of emails sent to the owner of CMX that the boys have been made party to: I immediately received a call from the corporate headquarters of CMX in OZ. I was told the owner has been made aware of all that has transpired and that they are doing everything in their power to get the cars cleared. They assured me this is not how they do business and the UK agent responsible is finished. I was told that all additional expenses incurred will be reimbursed to the boys. They further went on to add that upon the return of the owner in the next couple days a donation will be made to Jacks charity fund. I was offered a most sincere apology for all they have been put through and thanked for my efforts in tying up the loose ends their agent failed to take care of. So in the next couple days we will see if their actions speak louder than words.

Thanks Again Bill C. That's exactly what they didn't file. As far as the trucking I have a company waiting in the wings as soon as we get the word, but if they can't do it ASAP you'll be hearing from me. Right now the lads are bearing the day to day expenses on their own, pending reimbursement from CMX. Things better shake loose soon or they'll get the worst free advertising a Global company could ever hope for......