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Grieving Uncle Turns Pixar Car into Charity Sensation
16 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Man tours with fibreglass model of Lightning McQueen to raise money for Children in Need
- Runs a child bereavement charity after losing his 27-month-old nephew
- Customized a van to transport the car around the southwest of England
In November 2025, a man named Luke Russell from Devon is using a fibreglass model of Lightning McQueen from the Disney Pixar film Cars to raise money for the Children in Need charity. Russell runs a child bereavement charity, JB and Me, which he started six years ago after the sudden and unexplained death of his 27-month-old nephew.
The experience of losing his nephew motivated Russell to help other families dealing with grief and loss. He has been taking the Lightning McQueen model car to various events across the southwest of England to raise funds for Pudsey. Russell purchased the fibreglass model, which was originally created as a press prop for the Cars 2 movie premiere.
To transport the car, Russell has customized a van to ensure everything fits and works properly. He has been touring children's hospices and other events, dedicating all of his free time to the charity. Russell hopes to make a difference in the lives of families experiencing similar tragedies to the one his own family went through.
