Over 400 trucks take part in ‘Trucking for Creeslough’ fundraiser

Today’s ‘Trucking for Creeslough’ event saw 432 trucks take part in a convoy to raise money for the families affected by the Creeslough explosion last October.

The trucks set off Donegal Road, Ballybofey, this afternoon through Stranorlar and into Letterkenny, then past Mountain Top, Kilmacrennan, Termon and into Creeslough. The truck run has been organised by Colin Kilpatrick, who was one of the first people on the scene the day of the explosion.

When the entourage got to Creeslough, St Johnston native Colin and his co-pilot 12-year-old Hamish O'Flaherty, whose father James was one of the 10 people who died in the explosion, hung a wreath at the service station. The event was organised with the help of all at Bernard Long & Son Transport, Ballybofey.

“My co-driver today did a great job,” Colin said of Hamish on completion of the run. “When we were in Creeslough we heard there were still trucks at the Mountain Top. They came from everywhere this morning, from Dublin, Cavan, Longford, you name it. The word just got out and went from there. I was there on the day of the explosion in Creeslough and wanted to try and do something.”

After turning in Creeslough, the trucks made their way back to the Silver Tassie Hotel in Letterkenny on the Ramelton Road via Milford. Gardaí gave the event their full support and will be directing traffic on the day.

“There’s way more than we expected, as we thought we’d have 200, maybe 250,” said Dungloe native Dean McLaughlin, who is a fellow driver with Colin’s at Bernard Long’s. “They just came in their droves. There were trucks joining in from Letterkenny at the Clanree and when we left Creeslough there was still a stream of trucks.

“Colin had an idea and he wanted to give something back, having been there on the day of the tragedy. Himself and Bernard, our boss, got it going and I helped out with fundraising. There were so many people involved and we can’t thank them enough, from sponsors to guards. We couldn’t have asked for more. It was on a different level and there were so many people giving donations. It was €30 per lorry and they all gave so much more.”

At 8pm tonight, there will be an auction, which at the last count is approximately 140 lots, a raffle with up to 50 prizes, and dinner at the Silver Tassie to supplement the monies raised from the truck run.