From one honest conversation between two friends to over £93,000 raised for bereaved parents in Northamptonshire, the remarkable Rust Bucket Rally sets off today!
Early this morning (2am to be exact!) a convoy of 93 “rust buckets” – cars worth less than ÂŁ1,000 each – set off from Northamptonshire on an epic journey across Scandinavia in support of Petals.
Travelling through Norway, Sweden and Denmark in vehicles held together with little more than determination, duct tape and blind optimism, the Rust Bucket Rally promises adventure, breakdowns, plenty of laughter and an unforgettable spectacle. The enduring message: “No rust bucketer left behind!”
But behind the colourful cars and ambitious road trip lies something much more powerful: a story of camaraderie, compassion and community, and a commitment to help other families facing the heartbreak of baby loss.
Loss, friendship and life-changing fundraising
The journey began last year when rally participant Pete Chilver and his wife Rosie experienced the devastating loss of their IVF baby, ten years after their first loss and a painful journey of hope and heartbreak.
When Pete and Rosie left their local hospital following a traumatic miscarriage, they described how they were “simply sent home. No follow-up appointment. No support information. No guidance for what came next”.
As a way to channel their grief, Pete signed them up to take part in the Rust Bucket Rally 2025 together – something he had been involved with for some time. The journey took them in their own Petals car across the Swiss Alps and Lakes. At that stage, they had not shared their experience of miscarriage with other team members.
It was during that trip that Rust Bucket Rally organiser Carlos Baldry noticed something wasn’t quite right.
“You don’t seem yourselves,” he told Pete during a conversation in a bar in Geneva. When Pete explained what had happened to him and Rosie, Carlos responded simply: “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
Then came an unexpected suggestion. “Why don’t we make next year’s charity one that supports people through baby loss?”
Pete was taken aback. “Really? Are you sure?”
Carlos’s answer was immediate. “We’re a family. You’re one of our own. We want to help you. And this will help others too.”
That conversation sparked an extraordinary chain of events that has led to today, as the Rust Bucket Rally 2026 sets off across Scandinavia with Petals as its chosen charity.
[Pete and Rosie on last year’s Rust Bucket trip]
Conversations, camaraderie, community
We know how much those conversations matter. Baby loss affects far more families than many people realise. Yet for many parents, particularly fathers and partners, grief can feel isolating and difficult to talk about.
Carlos has been struck by just how many people have connected with Petals’ mission.
“The nature of Petals and what the charity does hits home with a lot of people,” he said. “It’s not spoken about an awful lot, but it resonates with a lot more people than I ever thought it would.”
The impact of the team’s fundraising will be felt for years to come.
Funds raised through the Rust Bucket Rally will enable Petals to launch dedicated counselling services at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital. Currently, there is no specialist Petals counselling service available to parents experiencing pregnancy or baby loss at either hospital.
For Pete and Rosie, knowing other parents will receive support when they need it most means everything.
“Knowing that so many parents will have someone to talk to, someone to guide them through their grief together as a couple, is phenomenal,” Pete said. “Knowing they won’t walk out of those hospitals with zero signposting to support offers us real comfort that we’ve managed to make a difference out of something so painful.”
[Carlos, organiser of Rust Bucket Rally with Karen Burgess, Founder and CEO of Petals]
From a Scandinavian tour to two new local specialist services
Petals Founder and CEO Karen Burgess said: “We are overwhelmed by the energy and enthusiasm of this incredible Rust Bucket Rally team as their fundraising total continues to rocket. This money will be transformational for Petals and for those parents who may sadly experience baby loss in the future. What a massive achievement.”
The new partnership will enable thousands more bereaved parents across Northamptonshire and the surrounding area to access specialist support following pregnancy or baby loss.
As the convoy heads off on its Scandinavian adventure, we’ll be cheering them on at every mile – and even joining them for the final leg in our very own Petals car! Because this remarkable community has shown what can happen when people come together, support one another and, most importantly, talk.
After all, that one honest conversation between friends in a bar has turned into something honestly extraordinary: new services for an entire region, and vital support for so many more bereaved parents.
What an inspirational team and event.
