Tractor run raises £4,500 for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals charity

A local man who wanted to show support for the NHS has helped raise money for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity.

Bryan Eccleston, from Inskip, organised a Tractor Run, which saw 82 tractors and farm vehicles visiting the villages of Inskip, Elswick, Great Eccleston, Catforth and Bartle.

Other farm vehicles joined the route, to raise money for the NHS.

placeholder image — Other farm vehicles joined the route, to raise money for the NHS.

More than 160 donations were received through a JustGiving page, from local people and local businesses who wanted to give back to the NHS.

The vehicles were decorated with the NHS rainbow, with many local residents coming out of their homes to show their support from a safe distance.

“We are thrilled to have raised such a brilliant amount for our local NHS. With the support of local people, we’re now at an incredible £4520 and counting," said Bryan.

"Our Tractor Run made for a fantastic day, with tractors and farm vehicles sounding their horns and bringing smiles to the faces of local residents. Not only has our event raised money for our hard-working NHS staff, but we believe we raised community spirits too."

Roya Armstrong, Fundraising Coordinator at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful when members of our community organise amazing events like these to fundraise for us.

"We want to say a massive thank you to all of the local businesses and people who helped to make the Tractor Run happen, as we simply couldn’t do our work without these wonderfully generous donations.

Locals showed their support for the tractor run.

"This was such a fun way of spreading some cheer at what is a challenging time for all of us, and we will ensure the funds will go towards improving patient care and staff wellbeing here at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.”

Bryan had organised a village tractor run last month, that lifted community spirits as they clapped for carers in support of the NHS.

It heard the sound of horns and engines above Inskip and the surrounding villages, coinciding with Thursday's ‘Clap For Carers’.

The Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity provides resources to support patients and their families who use Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble Hospitals.

The NHS Foundation Trust provides district general hospital services to a local community of 390,000 and specialist services to 1.5m across Lancashire and South Cumbria.