Over €118,000 from 'Trucking for Creeslough' is presented

Over €118,000 has been presented to the Creeslough fund from the ‘Trucking for Creeslough’ fundraiser.

On Thursday evening, organisers officially handed over the proceeds from the February fundraiser to Gerard McFadden of the McFadden Go Fund Me Trust.

The ‘Trucking for Creeslough’ fundraiser took in a stunning €118,045, which will take the Go Fund Me total well over €500,000.

In the wake of a devastating explosion on October 7 which claimed the lives of ten people, Creeslough native Gerard McFadden set up a Go Fund me page.

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McFadden is based in Brisbane and is the son of the late Ben McFadden, a long-time community volunteer from Ards who died in April 2022.

St Johnston man Colin Kilpatrick, a lorry driver with Bernard Long & Son Transport in Ballybofey, was one of the first responders on the scene on the day of the explosion and was the head of the ‘Trucking for Creeslough’ idea.

He had been making a deliver at a nearby business premises when the blast occurred.

Colin was aided by Bernard and Patrick Long and Dean McLaughlin to put the event together.

Colin led the convoy of some 432 trucks, accompanied by Hamish O'Flaherty, the 12-year-old whose father James lost his life in the tragedy. At the site of the explosion, Colin placed a wreath.

The lorries travelled from Ballybofey to Creeslough and the convoy was followed by an auction night at the Silver Tassie Hotel.

“No-one said no,” Colin told Donegal Live. “Anyone rang to ask for help, for a donation or to take part in the lorry run, everyone wanted to do what they could. That made it a lot easier. You need that if you're going to organise a big event."

Colin Kilpatrick (third from left) 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 and Dean McLaughlin. (NW Newspix)

Over 800 people gathered at the Silver Tassie for the auction, which saw 125 lots go under the hammer.

A Honda 50 and a rally experience with former Irish Tarmac Rally champion Garry Jennings were among the top money spinners.

He said: “No-one got a bargain and people were just there to help. Everything we got was donated. It was a big undertaking, but it was very successful.

“The money will go to the families of the deceased and the injured.

“Realistically, it's €100,000 more than we expected to get. The money is going where we want it, to the families of the people affected.”