This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Carlow to Cork Tractor Club, which donated over €52,000 to Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin this year and a total of €579, 135 over the last two decades.
The €52,000 will be used to purchase a Nouvag liposuction and infiltration system for €16,878 and a pathology band saw for €18733 as well as giving €5666 to the children’s heart centre, €5666 to neurology and €5666 to paediatric dermatology, medical tower 2.
Founder of Carlow to Cork Tractor Club, Brendan Byrne from Bagenalstown, said:
“With the continued kindness and generosity of our supporters across Ireland and beyond, we will continue to support the patients, families and staff in Children’s Health Ireland Crumlin, today, tomorrow, and in the future.”
This year, for the first time, Carlow to Cork Tractor Club used Circle K’s Renewable diesel MilesBIO HVO100 in its vintage tractors to help reduce emissions on its annual journey from Carlow to Cork.
Using MilesBIO HVO100, the vehicles CO2 emissions were reduced by up to 85%.
“To further help offset our emissions, Carlow to Cork Tractor Club agreed with Bagenalstown Town Council to plant trees and hedges along Beechers Hill, Bagenalstown.
“This initiative is funded and planted solely by Carlow to CorkTractor club members,” said Byrne.
Tractor club
Carlow to Cork Tractor Club was set up in 2005 with a mission to raise much needed funds for CHI at Crumlin and has continued to do so for 20 years.
“Crumlin Hospital is very close to our hearts and is important to so many people in Ireland. There are a lot of sick kids out there and we’re doing our bit to help.
“The Carlow to Cork Tractor Club has about 100 members and every year on the June bank holiday weekend we begin our journey to raise funds for CHI Crumlin. Over the course of two days, we hit the road on our vintage tractors, which are 60-70-years-old.
“It’s amazing how people are willing to throw some money our way during the event. It really shows how helping sick children is a cause close to everyone’s heart. The trip itself is full of great fun and camaraderie,” he said.
“We start off in Fenagh, Co. Carlow, spend one night in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, and finish up at halfway in Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, where a lovely family take care of us,” Byrne said.
According to Byrne: “Irish people there’s a tendency to want to help. With commitment and a few good people behind you, you can make a big difference to the lives of sick children.
“As a rule, from the first year that we did the run to Cork, we donate all funds raised to the hospital. Our club members pay all their own expenses on all trips, no exceptions. We pride ourselves on this. At the end of every year our bank balance is zero.”
In 2023, the organisation funded the upgrade of the existing laproscopic hardware system to a 4K system to the value of €35,000.
“This year we are funding the acquisition of a liposuction and infiltration system at a cost of €16,878 and the acquisition of pathology band saw for €18,733.
“Our goal for 2024 is to pass the €565,000 line. We will as always work hard to reach and surpass our target.
“With the continued kindness and generosity of our supporters across Ireland and beyond, we will continue to support the patients, families and staff in Children’s Health Ireland today, tomorrow, and in the future,” Byrne said.
“We have lots of highs over the years with 20 years of stories, enough to fill a very big book. Lows have been very few, usually consisting of the passing of club members and the odd incident along the roads,” Byrne explained.