Organisers and charity delight after Oswestry Tractor Run raises £17,000
Organisers of the Oswestry Illuminated Tractor Run have expressed their delight after learning the event raised more than £17,000 for the Lingen Davies cancer fund.
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The event is held in memory of a of popular young farmer, Will Roberts, who sadly died from a brain tumour aged just 26. It has raised £5,000 more than it did last year.
Residents lined the streets last Saturday as hundreds of farmers in 103 tractors covered in Christmas lights, made their way from the Oswestry Livestock Market along a 38-mile long circular route through 11 towns and villages and back again.
The group is still welcoming donations from residents, and organiser Mike Lade is over the moon with the tally so far.
He said: "We increased donations via JustGiving but the biggest increase was because we managed to get so many more bucket collectors on the streets. It’s never enough and we can’t get to be everywhere, but we managed to maximise the coverage by moving collectors around after tractors had passed.
"The decent weather was the final bonus."
CEO of Lingen Davies, Naomi Atkin said: "A massive thank you to everyone involved in organising and supporting the event, in particular Dave and Sue Roberts who continue to fundraise for the charity in memory of their son Will.
"Organising an event of this nature and on this scale is no small feat and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has been a part of the tractor run. To have more than 100 tractors taking part was a spectacular sight and we had a team of 100 volunteers supporting collections. This is a massive event and to raise £17,000 is a phenomenal tribute to Will Roberts and his family.
"As a charity we fundraise to support services for those impacted by cancer throughout Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Mid Wales. This money will go towards ensuring local people can access the best cancer services, equipment and kit locally at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's Lingen Davies Cancer Centre, as well as furthering our programme of holistic therapies available to patients living with and beyond in the community.
"We also fund and deliver the 'LiveLife' Cancer Awareness service sharing information about the signs and symptoms of cancer with the wider community, helping to drive more people to seek an early diagnosis wherever possible.
"Thank you again to Dave and Sue Roberts for their ongoing support and creating such an impactful legacy in memory of their son Will."
Residents have been told to pencil Saturday, December 13 in their diaries next year when the tractor run will return.
You can also donate on the JustGiving page or visit the group's Facebook page @oswestryilluminatedtractorrun.
