From London To Cannes: Inside The Final Leg Of The Cash And Rocket Tour

Emily Maddick is our roving reporter on the road with 70 of the planet’s most fabulous women, in a fleet of Valentino red racing cars raising cash for African charities: Shine On Sierra Leone, O Africa and Sumbandila. Their five day adventure will take them from London, via Paris, Lyon, Milan and end in Cannes to join the glitz and glam of the Cannes Film Festival...

Here is Emily’s final bulletin…

Tuesday 19 May.

Milano - Cannes.

Early start and winding roads

7.30am departure from the Principe hotel, a few groggy heads this morning - but not the drivers! Everyone passed their breathalyser tests. It’s a mixed mood - everyone’s excited to get to Cannes, but sad it’s the last day - as all the girls are super bonded, it feels like we’ve been on the road for weeks! There are a lot of Valentino boiler suits on show today…I need to get me one of those! My ride today is in a nippy little soft top Mercedes - an E220 Cabrio - with one of the chicest women I have ever met in my life, Dragana Kunjadic at the wheel. Co-pilot is Lisa Lovatt-Smith, one of the most inspirational women I have ever met in my life. Strong team. Dragona is a style icon and celebrity in Italy as muse and image consultant to Costume Nationale. Lisa - a former Vogue editor and famous photographer - founded the charity O Africa, one of the beneficiaries of cash and rocket and has lived in Ghana since 2002 with her five adopted children. Dragana also has exquisite taste in music - this is the best soundtrack of the trip so far. We’re travelling in convey with the Wood girls, and Leah has an ingenious way of telling us they need gas - overtaking us with a big handwritten sign at the window! We stop - and then we get lost. I am starting to think I am a curse - every car I’ve travelled in has got lost! At least we have a laugh though!

Convoy into Cannes along the Croisette - gulp, me at the wheel!

It was the stuff of dreams. Arriving in Cannes, along the Croisette behind the wheel of a red sportscar with the roof down. Dragana handed the keys over to me for the very final drive of the trip. Red lippy on, shades on and roof down. Amazing. We caused quite the scene with our police escort along the Croisette! The crowds went wild and the normal madness of the Film Festival - a semi naked man dressed as a horse in leather bondage gear tried to jump in our car, just moments after we passed Joan Smalls and Kendall Jenner. Only in Cannes.

Nespresso beach lunch

The sun was out, the pale pink rose was served with ice and the food was Riviera delicious: fresh fish, heavenly salads and beacoup du pain et du fromage. And of course shots of much-needed coffee courtesy of Nespresso, who were hosting us. Mollie King told us it was her first Cannes - and what a way to arrive. Check in at the Martinez (also staying here: Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner and Joan Smalls. Natch. We spotted Kendall Jenner stalking around the reception in amazing sunglasses looking terribly tall. Like ridiculously tall.)

Chopard cocktails on the roof

Dressed in my fabulous new frock from Gyunel (thanks guys) we headed up to the roof of the Martinez for a Cannes-tastic cocktail soiree hosted by Chopard. The theme was green - and all the ladies went to town on the frocks for the final night - Valentino gowns to die for and Chopard jewels to gawp at. Sushi and Lobster. Divine. But the best news of the night came when Julie made a speech to announce that the total raised during the trip was $1.45million. And no surprises for guessing who raised the most cash? Ms Chloe Green, raising over £200,000 - including £200 from Kate Moss. What an incredible, incredible adventure. I am exhausted - but utterly inspired. Thank you. Until next year ladies.

P.S. There is still time to donate - please visit www.cashandrocket.com

See all the pictures from the final leg of the Cash and Rocket tour in the gallery below...