On the run for worthy cause

FOUR fugitives from Plymouth, England have been found hiding out and lounging around at the Sheraton Utama Hotel in the capital.

Jailbreakers, as the team of four are known back in the UK, usually means people who are on the run from the law but this time around, the four are actually civilians who are participating in the 25th Dartmoor Jailbreak Charity event based in Plymouth, UK

The jailbreakers, Joseph Louei, Restaurateur, Hotelier and current owner of Astor Hotel, Associate Urology Specialist at Derriford Hospital Salvo Natale, Babcock Marine Procurement Co-ordinator Brian Cross and BBC Radio Devon presenter and Plymouth local celebrity Gordon Sparks execute their plan to escape on April 19, 2008 with the rest of the 33 teams that took part in this year's event.

The four have found their way all the way to Brunei with a booty of over £15,000 (B$40,230) collected from sponsors in the UK before they started out on a journey in care of local sponsors Royal Brunei Airlines and Sheraton Utama Hotel Brunei and with other individual sponsors.

The 25th Dartmoor Jailbreak is a charity event which challenges all participants with different sorts of tasks locally and internationally to raise money for charity organisations.

The four men are set with a challenge of getting here and back without spending a single cent on air transport, accommodations or any other amenities while raising money for their chosen charities.

Others on the charity run have also been set with different types of challenges such as running off to Auckland and many others.

According to Gordon Sparks, one of the four, when they were well on their way to escape as soon as they arrived in Brunei yesterday morning, they nearly got stumped trying to get out of the airport parking lot and making their way to the hotel.

"Our trip here is sponsored by the kind people from Sheraton Utama and Royal Brunei Airlines who have done their best to accommodate our escape," he said.

"We intend to get as much coverage (local food and atmosphere) and see whatever sights we can before we get caught and hauled back to Plymouth," he added jokingly as he commented on their scheduled five day stop here in the sultanate.

The team is raising funds for their individual charities which are St Luke's Hospice Plymouth, Macmillan Cancer Support, Chestnut Appeal for Prostate Cancer and Vranch House School & Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

While in Brunei, which is the second for Brian Cross, will include visits to the British High Commissioner, Brunei FA and Brunei Tourism Development Board, among others.

"Coming to Brunei was just a matter of calling up some old friends because through various charity organisations and old acquaintances we've managed to make a lot of mutual friends along the way as charity work brings people closer together and you never forget the ones that help you out," said Brian who is a veteran at fundraising events.

"One of us is a real pro at escaping since on the way over here we've lost him quite a few times already, also another reason why we chose him as a team mate as well aside from the money he was willing to fork out," added Brian speaking of his fellow escapee Joseph.

The Dartmoor Jailbreak started off in 1984 and since then the event has been able to raise funds well over £500,000 for charity organisations in the UK.

Teams have escaped to 48 different countries in the past and have been featured on TV worldwide including Zagreb, Hong Kong, Brunei, Australia and America.

The Brunei Times