A LONG time ago in a town not so far, far away was a superfan called Tony Adams who transformed an old banger into an X-Wing car!
The 54-year-old foster dad, of Denbigh, made the replica Rebel Alliance X-Wing Starfighter car ahead of the Benidorm or Bust charity Rally. He started work on converting the vehicle before Christmas and has been help by teammates brother-in-law Daniel Rostron and friends Liam Clement and Luke Patterson.
The accountant, who is married to wife Diane, is raising money for Cancer Support UK. Two years ago Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer. The full-time foster carer was supported by the charity while she battled the disease.
Meliden's Spencer Wilding, who played Darth Vader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), has given the replica fighter vehicle his seal of approval ahead of its journey to Dover [where the drive begins]. The Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) actor inspected and signed the car's dashboard.
Tony said: "This is the fourth Benidorm or Bust Rally we have done. We got the car about November and we started work around December. A lot of work was done in the house because it was cold. We finished the car about six weeks ago. There is probably about 120 hours of work there. It keeps me out of trouble.
"We have gone with this replica as people know it. You see Scooby-Doo, the Batmobiles, the Ghostbusters.
"The car has wings and they fold in. They have hydrologics inside so you push a button and the wings will then come out so when we are off road, the wings can come out. We can put them in on the road so it is legal. It has four bubble machines in it and will produce an absolute ton of bubbles.
"It was a challenge and the fact is, we have never seen one before. Everyone knows what an X-wing fighter is.
"Normally when you finish the rally the car is scrapped but we are hoping to bring it back. The Denbigh carnival want me to show it in June."
Tony, who will be joined on the rally - which runs from May 15 until May 20, by Daniel, Liam and Luke, reached out to Spencer to tell him about the replica and what the men were up to.
"It was a shot in the dark," Tony said.
"I found him on Facebook and dropped him a message and told him what we were up to. He phoned me almost immediately. It was amazing.
"He said he had been touch by cancer himself and knew people and people who had lost people. He said 'I'm behind you, what do you want me to do?'
"He is a lovely chap. We met up with him, he took some photos and signed the dashboard.
"He was in the film Rogue One and our team name is Rogue One."
Talking about raising money for Cancer Support UK, Tony, who cares for 14-year-old girl who has complex, personal, mobility and learning needs, said: "My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. She lost both her parents to cancer. She was 49 when she got the diagnosis so she was scared to death.
"She was told the outcome was good but she needed surgery and chemo.
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"She came across the charity Cancer Support UK. They do a 'chemo kit' and that is a bag of everything to make chemo a bit easier - slippers because your feet get cold, sherbet lemons to help with the aftertaste. Lots of little things that just help during treatment.
"Because she went through this during Covid, I couldn't really be there with her. Every appointment was by herself. It was awful.
"I couldn't comprehend what she had been through so what Cancer Support do is put you in touch with others. They had all gone through it roughly the same time, a similar sort of cancer, and similar sort of treatment. They used to meet up once a month on Zoom and talk.
"She still keeps in touch with them now. She has been a year clear.
"My wife is 100 per cent behind us. She is helping us where she can to get the word out.
"My foster daughter isn't aware of what we are doing. She is 14-years-old but mentally, she is 18-months-old. She is the happiest kid you will ever meet.
"We have been fostering for 10 years," Tony added.
"Fostering is the best thing you can ever do."
The Benidorm or Bust rally takes place over four days. Teams starts in Dover and drive through France, Andorra, and Spain, before ending in Benidorm. The fundraising event see participants drive cars they have purchased for under £500 from the UK. Many people customise their cars and wear fancy dress.
Tony expressed his thanks to sponsors: Fostering Solutions, Denbighshire Music Co-operative and Abacus Accountants.
Readers can donate via JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/teamrogueone
People can also search Team Rogue One on Facebook.
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