It was a long, slow, cold journey, but a team of three in late February successfully drove a forklift truck from John O'Groats in Scotland, the northernmost point in Great Britain, to Land's End in Cornwall, the island's southwestern extremity. Several U.K. publications report that the idea for the four-day journey was hatched by Stuart Colvin (a professional lift-truck driver and instructor), Steve Hare, and Steve Golding to raise money for cancer research in memory of their friend, Tim Frankham, who died of a brain tumor in May 2009. The three wanted to do something in keeping with Frankham's positive attitude and sense of humor.

"Team Tim" drove in four-hour shifts, finishing up on what would have been Frankham's 43rd birthday. The 915-mile route is a popular one for charity walks and bike rides, but this undoubtedly was the first time the trip—described by Frankham's widow Helene as "one of the most bum numbing of escapades"—was carried out via material handling equipment. Her description was more accurate than she might have imagined: The drive began in a surprise snowstorm.

Jungheinrich UK Ltd. loaned the diesel-powered counterbalanced truck to the three adventurers.