Plans for Fifth Paudie Fitzmaurice Tractor / Vintage Run Launched

Sharon Fitzmaurice, the youngest of the late Paudie Fitzmaurice's four children pictured at the launch of the fifth annual Paudie Fitzmaurice Memorial Tractor and Vintage Run at the Onchology Unit at University Hospital Kerry. All the proceeds of the event will go to Chemotherapy Unit at the hospital. ©Photograph: John Reidy
Sharon Fitzmaurice, the youngest of the late Paudie Fitzmaurice’s four children pictured at the launch of the fifth annual Paudie Fitzmaurice Memorial Tractor and Vintage Run at the Onchology Unit at University Hospital Kerry.  ©Photograph: John Reidy

The fifth annual Paudie Fitzmaurice Memorial Tractor and Vintage Run will start in Cordal at 1pm. on Sunday, September 11th 2016. It will also finish there at the end of the run.

It will set out at from the yard of Cordal Community Centre / GAA grounds and head to Brosna by the Black Banks and onto Ahane Cross. It will proceed to Feale’s Bridge and home by Headley’s Bridge and Loughfouder. It will pass through Castleisland and onto the final run home. There will be refreshments served at the community centre before the off and at Hughes’ Bar in Cordal afterwards.

Continuing Success

“The continuing success of the event has shown the regard with which the late Paudie and his family are held within the community. He was a much loved, extremely popular local taxi driver and character who died on May 27th. 2012 in a tragic road accident,” according to a spokesman for the organisers.

Born and raised in Brosna, Paudie lived and worked in Castleisland with his wife, Mary and young family at the time of his sad passing. He was known far and wide and is sadly missed by his immediate family and many friends.

“The Paudie Fitzmaurice Memorial Tractor and Vintage Run members are very proud to be associated with the run in support of the Chemotherapy Unit at University Hospital Kerry,” said the spokesperson.

Out-Patient Service

The Oncology/Chemotherapy Day Unit at the hospital is a five-day Monday to Friday out-patient service. The service provides patient care to ensure that those who develop cancer receive effective and efficient nursing care and that their quality of life is enhanced to the greatest extent possible.

The day unit service offers support to patients who experience complications arising from their cancer diagnosis and from the treatment by offering appropriate emotional, social and psychological support for patients and their families.

The unit treated over 4,000 patients in 2015. In the first six months of this year 2,500 patients attended University Hospital Kerry for cancer treatment.

Vintage Cars and Motor-Bikes

The ad-hoc committee behind the fund-raising run extends a huge Cead Mile Failte to all tractor, vintage car and motorbike owners who participated last year.

They will also welcome anyone who wishes to join them on September 11th this year on a day which will remember fellow vintage enthusiast, Paudie Fitzmaurice.

This year, to expand the extent and scope of donations to this worthy cause, we are launching a GoFundMe page where donations can be made on-line. The account has been opened with the Castleisland branch of Tralee Credit Union and the account number is 56797.  Please also like and share the Facebook page and details on the GoFundMe page.

Entry fee on the day is €20 per vehicle and sponsorship cards can be had from any member of the organising committee.”