In pictures: Hundreds gather for Trucking for Donegal fundraiser

Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Joe Boland (North West Newspix)

Hundreds of truckers have converged in Raphoe for the Trucking For Donegal fundraiser.

The brainchild of experienced lorry driver Colin Kilpatrick, the team has reassembled for their next mission, following on from Trucking For Creeslough in 2023.

This year’s event will raise money for Raphoe Community Playgroup and the Donegal Hospice.

Hundreds of spectators lined the route as the truckers made off from the Raphoe Livestock Mart, from where they will head for a major dance and fundraising auction at the Clanree Hotel, via a detour to Bridgend.

Colin’s four sons have all benefited from the Raphoe Community Playgroup and his youngest boy still attends presently.

The playgroup, first set up in 1982, currently caters for 40 children, but that figure is expected to rise to 50 in the autumn. Last year, it was confirmed that the building on Castle Road, constructed in 2000 after a mammoth fundraising effort in the area, had defective concrete blocks.

With the playgroup classed as a commercial building, the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme does not cover it. Half of the children are now being catered for in the Volt House with the others in a prefabricated building at the playgroup site.

Colin says: “The community built it and it was the same families who first built it who the responsibility is on again. 

“Hopefully we can raise a good amount to give them a lift. They had funding in place for an extension but the cost of their current situation means that money is getting smaller.

“They’re making the best of what they have at the minute, but it’s a disaster for them really and they need a new building.

Trucking For Creeslough raised a staggering €117,000 for the Creeslough explosion fund and the St Johnston man said: “I said I wouldn’t do it because last year took a lot out of me, but when the people approached me about doing it, I thought it would be a good idea. The same team is still behind me and we’re hoping to have another successful event for two very worthy causes.”

The Donegal Hospice will also benefit from the proceeds of Trucking for Donegal.

He said: “We have experienced first hand the brilliant work the Hospice does. They’re two different ends of the age scale and both need a lot of help.”