The Tullyallen Tractor Run has been held on December 27 every year since 2015 and in that time it has become part and parcel of Christmas for many people in the wider Drogheda area and raised close on €200,000 for charity.

The tractors assemble each year in the car park in front of Tullyallen Church and, for a couple of hours before the rally starts, hundreds of people visit to admire the agricultural machinery – some new and some very old.

There’s something about tractors that appeals to boys of all ages from 7 to 70 and it is always a thrill to have your photo taken beside a big new John Deere or on the seat of an old Massey Ferguson.

When the engines of the 250 plus tractors are fired up ready for the start, the cacophony of noise must surely be heard for miles around.

The whole point of the tractor run is to raise funds for the North East Cancer Research and Education Trust (NECRET) and Tullyallen Carers - two charities that are close to the hearts of the local men who started it, farmer Derek Russell and agricultural contractors Stephen and Gordon Healy.

NECRET is the fundraising arm of the Oncology Unit at the Lourdes Hospital and earlier this week Derek Russell and Stephen Healy dropped in to present the proceeds of this year’s tractor run, a cheque for €30,768 and another couple of thousand in cash, to the grateful managers and staff.

Advanced Nurse Practitioner and NECRET's Chairperson Liz Summersby have had a very busy year providing treatment and nursing care to patients in  the Oncology Unit and they also carry out valuable work in looking after the training needs of nurses and doctors and also running health promotion and education events.

Liz told Drogheda Life that the money from the tractor run will help with plans to improve the patient experience in the unit with the provision of a family room which is currently under discussion.

She also asked  that we mention a service of Hope which is due to be broadcast on Gery Kelly’s Late Lunch programme on LMFM on  December 15^th from 1.30 to 3.30 pm.