'Keep Her Lit' tractor run's €51k to benefit two charities
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From left, Micheál Loddick, Rosemount GAA, Marie Shortall, Mount Temple, treasurer, Mary Farrell, Castledaly of Farrell Agri, the late Michael’s employers, Sarah McCormack, Michael’s sister; Aoife Fitzgerald, Moate, who was Michael’s girlfriend; Helen McCormack, Rosemount and from AWARE, Drew FloodImage 2 of 4
The group present for the handover of the cheques. From left, Micheál Loddick, Rosemount GAA, Marie Shortall, Mount Temple, joint treasurer, James Glennon, committee; Aoife Fitzgerald, Moate, who was Michael’s girlfriend;Sarah McCormack, Michael’s sister; Michael’s parents Michael and Colette McCormack; David Geoghegan from Rosemount; Micky and Mary Farrell, Castledaly, of Farrell Agri, the late Michael’s employers; Helen McCormack, Rosemount; Annette Molloy of Jigsaw; Michael’s sister Kalene McCormack; Drew Flood, AWARE; Deirdre Fitzgerald, Moate, joint treasurer; and Nicola McCormack, sister of Michael, and Alison Harte of JigsawImage 3 of 4
Centre, Michael’s parents Michael and Colette McCormack with Alison Harte of Jigsaw and Drew Flood of AWARE.Image 4 of 4
The McCormack family - Sarah, Colette, Michael, Nicola and Kalene - and Michael’s girlfriend Aoife Fitzgerald, Moate.The ‘Keep Her Lit for Mickey’ tractor run held in Rosemount over Christmas in memory of a hugely popular young local man resulted in a windfall of €51,090 for the mental health charities Jigsaw and Aware.
Cheques of €25,545 apiece were handed over to representatives of the two charities by the family of the late Michael McCormack who died in tragic circumstances in September at just 21 years of age.
Representing Jigsaw were Alison Harte and Annette Molloy, while the AWARE representative was Drew Flood.Michael loved tractors, and the family came up with the idea of a tractor run, setting a fundraising target of €3,000 which was rapidly surpassed several times over.
"It can take a lot of courage for someone to admit that they are struggling and to ask for help," said the family as they handed the cheques over, adding that their hope was that the money raised would help the charities to provide ongoing support to anyone who does approach them, and to the loved ones of those people.
"We know Michael is so proud of what we have achieved in our first year of having the run in memory of him. We would like to thank everyone again for helping us in all the ways that you have, not just by donating but by being there for us as a family," they stated.