Dublin2Mayo Charity Tractor Run 2019

In 2018 the NRH Foundation were very lucky to be one of the three chosen charities for the 2019 Dublin2Mayo Charity Tractor Run. There was no time to spare, the Dublin2Mayo Charity Tractor Run Committee were hard at work fundraising and organising, not only for the tractor run but also for a weekend of entertainment events! Tickets to win a Massey Ferguson 135 started to sell when they spent a week at the Ploughing Championships last year, where we were delighted to be able to join them to help out. The number of tractors signed up to the tractor run was building fast and each participant also organised their own fundraising activities.

Before we knew it Easter weekend had arrived and we were in Dublin Port early on Good Friday morning, ready to cheer on the tractors as they started their tractor run which would take two days to reach Mayo. We followed the run as they made their way through Dublin City, up along the quays and on to the back roads through different towns and villages to reach their destination for the first evening in the Longford Army Barracks. Crowds came out in each town to cheer on the tractors and donate into the fundraising buckets, thanks to volunteer collectors along the route.

The next morning the tractors continued their way to their destination of Kilkelly, Co Mayo. But there was no rest for these fundraisers, as the Big Red Barn was set up in Kilkelly and the crowds were arriving for two nights of country and western music with on average 700 each night dancing the night away.

With the tidy up done and the dust settled it was time to count the final amount raised. We were invited to a cheque presentation in the Park Hotel Kiltimagh where the Dublin2Mayo Tractor Committee announced they raised a phenomenal €120,000 for their 3 chosen charities. We were delighted to receive a cheque for €40,000.

We were absolutely delighted to be chosen as one of the three beneficiary charities and the funds raised from this event will make a real and impactful difference in the lives of our patients in the NRH. The money raised from the Dublin2Mayo Fundraising Tractor Run will go towards the purchase of a:

• Dynavision D2 Machine for the Occupational Therapy Department, a very technical rehabilitation assessment and intervention tool, which trains user’s peripheral awareness, eye-hand coordination, and visual reaction time.
• Ceiling Mounted Interactive Floor Projection System for the Paediatric Programme in the new hospital. This system projects interactive imagery on the floor and is designed to support motor and cognitive rehabilitation in patients.
• and also, a new Car Transfer Assessment and Training Tool for the Occupational Therapy Department for both Spinal and Limb Absence Patients, which will help patients to learn the vital skill of transferring in and out of a vehicle safely before they leave the NRH.

We are extremely grateful to everyone who participated and to everyone who generously supporting this event, and in doing so, enabling us to further support the patients of the NRH as they travel their rehabilitation journey with ourselves. We are truly indebted to you all for your generosity to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) – and thank you for making this difference in the lives of our patients.