Young farmers pushed tractor to Cartmel

Cartmel Young Farmers set off from Haverthwaite at 7.30am on Sunday before visiting villages and towns including Cartmel, Flookburgh, Grange and Lindale and finishing seven hours later at 3.30pm. A group of eighteen pushed the tractor up to a maximum elevation of 423 feet, and an elevation gain of 1,040 feet. 

They did this to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

The tractor pushed was a two-and-a-half-ton 245 Leyland. The age range of the group that pushed the tractor was 10 to 28. 

Cartmel Young Farmers wanted to raise money for motor neurone disease

Dave Minton was the great uncle of the organiser of the event Dot Gibbons. He died from MND in August 2019, just a year after his diagnosis. 

Lucy Dickinson, one of the young farmers involved in the push, said: "We were a bit worried about the weather and the last few miles were like walking through a desert looking for water. 

"I would say we were quite emotional when we reached the finish line. We're only a small club - there are 19 of us. I felt like we were going to burst into tears. 

"I think we are suffering a bit from it. There are a few of us that are still suffering with bad legs."

The group has currently raised £1,900.   

Lucy said: "We will be doing more charity events in the future. We donate to charities that are close to members' hearts." 

The profile of MND was raised last year after former Leeds Rhinos rugby player Rob Burrow was included in the 2021 New Year Honours list. 

He was diagnosed with MND, a degenerative condition affecting nerves in the brain and spine cord, in 2019.

Cartmel Young Farmers' are still raising money through this Just Giving link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cartmelyf