The drive, which commenced in Kildare last Monday will visit every county in Ireland before returning to Kildare next week. Money raised will be used to fund the building of a new Children’s Hospice at Laura Lynne House as well as the existing NI Children’s Hospice in Newtownabbey.
Welcoming the tractor drive Dr Paisley said: “I am delighted to meet with Tractor on Tour 2008, who are striving to raise funds for children’s hospices.
I know that the first class facilities and service provided by the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, which I’m sure will be replicated by the proposed similar facitity at Laura Lynne House, are greatly valued by the families of the children who use these.”
Mr McGuinness said: “No charities touch our hearts more than those involving children and I am delighted to join with the First Minister in wishing those involved in this event every success as they aim to raise €50,000 for these worthy causes.
“I see that on leaving here today you will travel to my native North West and I’m sure people there and throughout Ireland will be as generous as always.”
Both Ministers also paid special tribute to Jill and Louise Barrett the organisers of the event and all involved in the tractor drive.
Notes to Editors:
1. The tractor tour commenced on April 17 in Kildare and aims to visit a town in each county in Ireland before returning to Kildare on April 30th.
2. The Laura Lynne Foundation and Children’s Sunshine Home have together raised €6M towards the construction of a children’s hospice; this event hopes to raise a minimum of €50,000 to assist both them and the NI Children’s Hospice.
3. A proportion of the sponsorship will be raised prior to the event, with the remainder being collected through bucket collections along the route.
4. It is planned that the event will take the following route through Northern Ireland:
- 21 April Stormont, Antrim, Derry, Letterkenny
- 22 April Letterkenny, Omagh, Enniskillen, Sligo
5. The event is being sponsored by New Holland Tractors, DCC Energy Ltd and Eagle Star Insurance.
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