The Tractor Run 2020
Posted by Chris Graham on 9th March 2020
John Foale with his restored Leyland 262, and The Tractor Run 2020 team.
An extraordinary adventure began to unfold last summer, when a small group of people – inspired by the energy and passion of 74-year-old John Foale – began a quest to help him in his bid to support Devon Air Ambulance, by organising The Tractor Run, 2020.
John’s plan is to drive a Leyland 262 that he bought as ‘a project’, from John O’Groats to Land’s End, to raise money for the Devon Air Ambulance. John set about the mammoth task of rebuilding the rusting tractor into a gleaming chariot, and the finished vehicle made its debut at the Kingsbridge Christmas Show, in 2019.
During that time, The Tractor Run 2020 team was busy raising sponsorship, organising fundraising events, building a social media and website presence, defining the route and creating regional networks of supporters and events along the route.
John’s main mission now is to raise enough money to allow the Devon Air Ambulance to take to the air, saving lives, on at least four missions. But The Tractor Run 2020 will pass through the regions covered by other air ambulance charities, where John will provide an opportunity for fundraisers in those areas to use his epic journey as a focus for local fundraising events for their air ambulances.
A full list of current sponsors and patrons can be found on the website (www.thetractorrun.org.uk), but more sponsorship and donations are needed. The treasurer, Keith Beaumont, can be contacted via email to keith@thetractorrun.org.uk, should you wish to donate or sponsor the run.
Martin Howell is the person to contact about fundraising events for The Tractor Run 2020. So, what can you do to help the team reach its goal, and bring the need for air ambulances to everyone’s attention? Contact Martin with your ideas at: martin@thetractorrun.org.uk
John and his trusty tractor are aiming to start from John O’Groats on May 21st and the run’s full itinerary can be found on the website. But the aim is to be at Land’s End on June 5th, and then return home to a hero’s welcome in Aveton Gifford, on June 7th.
To subscribe to Tractor & Machinery magazine, click here
