Mayo Mizen to Malin charity tractor run surpasses all expectations

THE public support behind the vintage tractor run which took place from Mizen Head to Malin Head earlier this year surpassed all expectations for the local organisers.

On January 29, six brave men began the arduous 710km trek from Mizen Head in Co Cork to Malin Head, Co Donegal in six Massey Ferguson 135s...and all without cabins.

The vintage tractor run was organised to remember John O’Malley from Carramore, Liscarney, Westport who died almost 20 years ago and also to raise much-needed funds for three charities: the Gena Heraty Haiti Fund, Mayo Roscommon Hospice and the Daisy Lodge, Cong, for Cancer Fund for Children.

READ: Achill tractor run raises over €14,000 for Mayo Roscommon Hospice

A target of €20,000 was set by the organisers but that figure has already been surpassed with the deadline of March 2 not set for the public to make a donation on the idonate website.

Ger McNamara who was part of the support crew who travelled from Mizen to Malin said that the support the group received in every community in Ireland surpassed their wildest expectations and they will remember the event for the rest of their lives.

“There has been fabulous support for the three charities and is way beyond our expectation. We could not have asked for better over the five days it took to get to Donegal. Everything went according to plan and we had sunshine from start to finish which is unusual for January and February time.

“Everyone was so happy to take part and there were no regrets from anyone. We got fantastic help along the journey. We had garda escorts and everywhere we pulled in people were out taking photos of the tractors and throwing money into the buckets. It was great to see the support and it made the whole journey and the planning that went into it worthwhile,” he said.

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

John had huge respect for his neighbour, Gena Heraty, in her tireless work for the people of Haiti and every euro raised in the tractor run will benefit the three charities as the drivers and committee members all agreed to bear their own costs for the event.

Ciarán Nolan of Beirne Express, Westport transported the tractors to Mizen Head and Ger said that everyone involved wishes to thank everyone who supported the tractor run in any way.

The link to donate on the idonate website closes on March 2 and people who wish to make a donation can do so by visiting the fundraising page at https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/MizentoMalinTractorRun.

An account called ‘Mizen to Malin Tractor Run’ has also been set up in the Westport Credit Union (IBAN:IE88WECI99217312241688;BIC:WECIIE21) and cheques can be made payable to ‘Mizen to Malin Tractor Run’.

More updates are available on the ‘Vintage Charity Tractor Run Mizen - Malin Head’ Facebook page.