It was an idea born out of the simple desire to help.
And last night the amazing ‘Trucking for Creeslough’ event gave back to a broken community determined to heal itself in time.
Colin Kilpatrick, the man behind the fundraiser which took place last February, officially handed over a cheque for €118,045.
The St Johnston man was one of the first people to respond on the day in Creeslough on October 7th last when a massive explosion claimed the lives of ten people.
Colin, a driver with Bernard Long & Son Transport in Ballybofey, was delivering locally when the tragedy occurred.
But instead of bravely helping on the day, Colin knew he had to do more in the aftermath of the disaster.
Colin and Hamish at the Trucking for Creeslough event.
And so in February, along with friends Patrick and Bernard Long and Dean McLaughlin, ‘Trucking for Creeslough’ literally roared through Donegal.
It involved a fleet of more than 430 trucks led by Colin who was accompanied by 12-year-old Hamish O’Flaherty who tragically lost his dad James in the disaster.
As well as an entry fee and donations along the way, Colin and pals also held a huge auction in the Silver Tassie Hotel to raise even more funds.
The donations piled in and last night Colin and pals handed over a cheque for the huge amount to Gerard McFadden of the McFadden Go Fund Me Trust.
Mr McFadden is the son of the late Ben McFadden, a long-time community volunteer from Ards who died in April 2022.
Gerard, who is based in Brisbane, Australia, set up a Go Fund Me page to raise funding following the disaster.
Pictured above is Colin Kilpatrick (third from left) with his family presenting a cheque for €118,045 to Gerard McFadden which is the proceeds of the Trucking for Creeslough fundraising event. Included in photo are from left, Patrick Long, Bernard Long, Serena Kilpatrick and Dean McLaughlin with children James, Sam, Dylan and Ben.
