We are not sure whether Michael Caine and director Peter Collinson ever imagined that their fun movie about a heist in Italy with Minis was going to actually be the source of inspiration for a charity event that has so far raised 1.9 million pounds - but that is exactly what a bunch of Mini fans just did.
The Italian Job - the charity - organises yearly trips to Italy where they re-create some of the famous scenes of the 1969 film "The Italian Job" (minus the actual heist we assume)! Anyone can join with the only requirement being that you are willing to put some effort into raising money for the charities supported by the Italian Job and have a road-worthy Mini or classic car from the film. It is not a competitive rally, but just a fun excuse to go through some of Italy's most beautiful regions, meet lots of new people and have lots of fun.
The charity supported by the Italian Job is the National Children's Homes (NCH) charity, while non-uk residents can direct 50% of the funds raised by them to a charity in their counry.
The Rally starts on the 26th of October at the Holiday Inn in Quarto d`Altino (Venice), and the Minis will then go through Monza, Turin, Annecy, Reims and arrive in Brighton for the closing dinner on Saturday November 3rd.
Commenting on the Italian Job in aid of NCH, the children's charity celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo (who appeared on shows such as This Morning and Ready Steady Cook!) said: "The Italian Job is a great opportunity to discover the delicacies and dishes of Northern Italy while raising money for the children's charity NCH. In this trip of a lifetime 100 minis race through the streets of Emilia Romangna in Northern Italy creating scenes from the famous film with drivers stopping throughout the tour to sample the tastes and sights of the region. So whether you're a connoisseur of all things Italian or would simply like to discover more of Italy this quirky holiday is a brilliant way to explore this beautiful region."
To find out more about the charity even visit http://www.italianjob.com.
Why don't you get your taste buds going with a recipe prepared specially for the event by Gino d'Acampo - Figs and Soft Cheese Rolled in Parma Ham
Gino also prepared
