London 2 Mayo tractor run smashes fundraising target for children with cancer

APRIL 30 marked the end of the London 2 Mayo Vintage Tractor Run fundraiser in aid of Cancer Fund for Children (CFFC) plans for a new therapeutic short break centre, Daisy Lodge, in Cong.

Kicking off in London, the participants and their tractors made a seven-day journey to the proposed site of the new Daisy Lodge, Mayo, working together to raise over €115,000, and counting!

Daisy Lodge is a much-needed therapeutic short breaks facility which will provide respite for children with a cancer diagnosis and their families and it is due to be built on the shores of Lough Corrib, near the village of Cong in south Mayo.

London 2 Mayo saw the drivers and their tractors clock up approximately 833km on the week long journey.

Travelling from The Claddagh Ring Irish Bar, London, to Birkenhead and across the sea to Belfast took three days to complete, while the remaining four days were spent on the route marked from Belfast to Castleblaney, Castleblaney to Longford, Longford to Kilkelly and, lastly, Kilkelly to Cong.

Extreme Tractor Runs are the organisation that run this activity annually and this year their chosen charity is CFFC. The participants have already surpassed their target of €100,000 for these two very worthwhile causes, with funds still being finalised.

“As a proud Mayo man I will be very proud to welcome Daisy Lodge to Co. Mayo and will do everything I can to make it happen. The therapeutic centre will help children and their families who are affected by cancer and require much needed respite,” said John Corley, lead driver.

Twenty-two drivers took part in London 2 Mayo and each of them have been affected to some degree by cancer.

“There’s nothing more distressing than to witness a child having to deal with a cancer diagnosis and see how it affects the entire family. The work that CFFC do to support these children and their families is like a breath of fresh air and allows families to regroup and find some normality in a dark place,” he said.

The planned centre in Mayo is inspired by a similar centre in Co. Down which currently supports 450 families a year, some of whom are referred for therapeutic short breaks through Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin.

“We have a great working relationship with the team at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, but the capacity in Newcastle is not sufficient to meet the all Ireland demand and that’s why we desperately need this second centre,” said CFFC CEO Phil Alexander. “We are so grateful to Extreme Tractor Run for helping to raise vital awareness and funds for Cancer Fund for Children.

“Our aim is that every child across Ireland diagnosed with cancer can access therapeutic short breaks and benefit from the unique support of our therapeutic team. A new Daisy Lodge in Mayo will be a life-changing facility for these children and their families.”

Daisy Lodge Mayo will be the first exclusive space for children diagnosed with cancer and their families in Ireland and will increase the number of families supported to 1,000 per year. This project will effectively ensure that no child in Ireland will face cancer alone.

You can donate directly here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lonon2mayo-tractorrun-for-cancerfund-for-children?qid=4e73c6da66a01c23b50f193a1c19302d