Six brave men undertake Mizen to Malin Tractor Run for Mayo charities

On January 29, six brave men will start the arduous 710km trek from Mizen Head to Malin Head. They hope to complete the journey on February 2. This will be an endurance test for all involved as their mode of transport will be six Massey Ferguson 135s tractors without cabins.

The six participants are Dominick McGreal, Westport; Philip Hastings, Westport; David Hastings, Westport; Jamie Langan, Galway; Tomás O’Malley, Westport, and Philip Robb, Donegal.

The group are organising the Tractor Run in order to raise much needed funds for three charities: Gena Heraty Haiti Fund, Mayo Roscommon Hospice and the Daisy Lodge, Cong, for Cancer Fund for Children. The Tractor Run is also been organised to remember John O’Malley, who died almost twenty years ago.

John O’Malley, Carramore, Liscarney, Westport went to his eternal rest on March 8, 2005 after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 51-years-old. His death left a huge void in his family and in the local community and beyond where he worked as an agricultural contractor.

Approaching the 20th anniversary of his passing, many ideas have been floated on how best to remember John. His son, Tomás and a group of his friends have come together to organise this Tractor Run in his honor.

John had huge respect for his neighbour, Gena Heraty in her tireless work for the people of Haiti. This sponsored tractor run will benefit three charities, and every euro raised will go straight to charity as drivers and committee members are bearing their own costs for the event.

A Massey Ferguson 135 was the first tractor John bought, followed by a fleet of David Browns and later by many Case IHS all bought from his great friends, Tom and Thomas Jennings of CFM in Castlebar.

Ciaran Nolan of Beirne Express, Westport, will transport the tractors to Mizen Head and then the hard work begins for the six hardy warriors. The fund will remain open for a month following the conclusion of the Tractor Run, just in case any of the lads will get lost en-route! So many people have worked very hard to organise this event. To each and everyone of them, the six lads are very grateful. This by its nature this is a once-off event and they won’t be asking for funding again. The lads are deeply indebted to everyone that has already donated and to those that will do so in the coming weeks. You can donate via the online fundraising page at https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/MizentoMalinTractorRun and for updates along the way, find them on Facebook at https://fb.me/e/7tBGwB8zx.

An account has been established in the Westport Credit Union. 'Mizen to Malin Tractor Run' is the name of the account, IBAN number is: IE88WECI99217312241688, BIC number is: WECIIE21. Cheques can be made payable to 'Mizen to Malin Tractor Run' or by using: 'Mizen to Malin Tractor Run idonate. The lads have one last request, they ask for a small prayer to whatever God you believe in, for favourable weather.