A well-known tractor run which had been looking forward to its 18th tractor and truck ‘tour de force’ this year is set to take social media by storm next month with a “virtual tractor rally”.

Due to public health guidelines surrounding Covid-19, the organisers of the Mac and Norman Vintage Tractor Rally decided that the run won’t be able to go ahead in its traditional format this year.

However, this is not stopping the Co. Kildare rally from holding its annual event – rather, organisers are asking tractor and truck enthusiasts to take part…from the comfort and safety of their own homes and areas.

The annual run raises funds each year for the Irish Cancer Society, with almost €489,000 raised for the charity since its inception.

In an appeal on the event’s GoFundMe page, organisers explained:

“All charities have been hit hard by the impact of Covid-19 and this is no different for the Irish Cancer Society which has had to cancel Daffodil Day and other significant events and is facing up to a 30% shortfall in fundraising income.

Image source Irish Cancer Society

Image source: Irish Cancer Society

“This is at a time when it has witnessed a 60% increase in demand for its Nurseline support service and a 20% increase in requests for Night Nurses.

Now, more than ever, cancer patients and their families need our support. With that in mind, we will be hosting the first ever Mac and Norman Virtual Tractor Rally.

“What we are asking is for people to conduct and film their own rally, in their own area. This is not just for tractors, trucks and motorbikes. We want everyone to get involved.

“Anything that moves can take part in the virtual rally. We would love to see children get involved by getting on their favourite toy tractor, bike or scooter and parading around their own homes.

Image source: Aline Fitzgerald

Image source: Aline Fitzgerald

“Whether multiple vehicles or single, we want to see people out on their machines in support of the Irish Cancer Society,” the organisers said.

To take part, prospective participants are asked to take a video of their “at-home rally” in landscape and email it to one of the organisers, Colm Lambe, on: [email protected] before Monday, August 10.

Submitted videos will then be compiled into a video and shown on the event’s Facebook page on August 16.

“We will be promoting our event far and wide this year as we hope to get entries across Ireland and abroad so please share this within your network and help us to achieve something significant in support of cancer patients,” the event organisers concluded.