We went to the ends of the earth for Birmingham Children's Hospital...

Apr 4 2008 By Chris Henwood

THE next time you feel deflated by a flat tyre, spare a thought for Steven and Linda Byrne.

Their car blew a gasket in Mongolia and then the steering column snapped as they made their way through Eastern Europe.

And all that came after their 1965 Aston Martin DB6 broke down in the sprawling sands of the Gobi Desert.

But it was all in the name of a good cause as the couple raised more than £84,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital by driving 7,890 miles in the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

Accountant Linda, aged 43, said: "It was challenging and we had quite a few problems with the car, huge problems actually, along the way.

"The half shaft linking the two front wheels snapped in the middle of the Gobi Desert - that was the first major problem.

"Then when we were driving through Mongolia and the car blew a gasket. It had to be put on a truck and taken to Russia because we couldn't find parts.

"And we drove for two days with no proper steering, just a metal chain linking the system, when the steering column snapped somewhere in Eastern Europe. We were veering across the road for 800 km."

Their 35-day adventure, without the help of a sat-nav, ended on June 30 last year after they'd motored through, among others, China, Siberia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Poland and Germany.

"It was a fantastic experience - the most difficult thing I've ever done but also the most fun. We're going to do it again in 2010," added Linda.

The cash was raised thanks to personal donations and corporate sponsorships, including one from Linda's employers and Frederick Street-based Midland and City Developments, where 43-year-old Steven is managing director.

The Worcestershire couple handed over the money for the Birmingham hospital's renal unit, where their four-year-old daughter Alexandra was treated, on Wednesday.

"My daughter went there about a kidney problem she inherited from me," said Linda.

"When I had it 40 years ago it was much more serious. I ended up in Great Ormond Street Hospital, but Alexandra's fine now."

Birmingham Children's Hospital fund-raising director Tracy Marsh said: "What a spectacular achievement getting from Peking to Paris without a satellite navigation system and raising more than £84,000."