Relay for Life will open with Donegal International Car Push in Letterkenny

At a push, this Wednesday's event acts as a curtain-raiser to the Relay for Life weekend.

But it’s so much more than that, and when the car dealers, the drivers, and the gyms involved take to the road, they’ll do so in the form of a rally of broken-down vehicles being pushed to the limit!

Not, of course, that these cars tend to break down (it will only seem that way) and it will be the gym representatives who will be straining every sinew to get their assigned vehicles around the route come next Wednesday evening when the Donegal International Car Push rolls into town or at least around it.

Each participating car will have its engines switched on for steering and braking effect, but the acceleration will come from the muscled men and women of the gyms – each gym is allowed eight members in total – to help propel their respective vehicles around the 5k route.

They’ll be helped to some extent by local celebrity drivers and you can have anybody from a Mary from Dungloe, a President of the Chamber of Commerce, a Highland Radio presenter, or even a TikTok personality stepping behind the wheel.

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Regular faces from the gyms – and probably very red faces by the end of it – will be puffing their way to the finish line and, who knows, you might even find the chairperson of Relay for Life Donegal muscling in on the event!

The great push will start at Divers Hyundai garage on Wednesday, May 21, at 7pm – each subsequent car will set off every two or three minutes – and proceed onto the Neil T Blaney Road, turning left at the Joe Bonner Road traffic lights, before joining the Port Road again and turning left at the Station roundabout.

The ‘rally’ of motor vehicles and personnel will pass the Community Centre and arrive back at Divers Hyundai before setting off around the route again for the second and final time. Event Manager, Robert O’Connor voiced the hope that the route will be lined with people encouraging each participant on.

“The last International Car Push took place in 2017 and we’re hoping this one will be equally as successful. And apart from the fund-raising efforts for Relay for Life, there are also the bragging rights for the garages and the gyms! There’ll definitely be a competitive edge to it and a good bit of craic," promises Robert. 

The list of garages, drivers and gyms taking part in this the second Donegal International Car push include respectively:
1. Kelly’s Toyota & Speer Performance. Driver : Rachel McLaughlin, Donegal Daily/ Donegal Woman.
2. Connolly’s Volkswagen & ATU Donegal Sports Centre. Driver : Jimmy Stafford, Letterkenny Chamber President.
3. Highland Motors & Ferry Fit. Driver : Michéal Brennan, Donegal Daddy.
4. iMotors & Pro-Fitness. Driver : Eric Roberts, Ireland’s Best Social Media Star 2025.
5. McGinley Motors & MC Fitness. Driver : Paddy Browne, The Viking Dippers.
6. DMG Motors & HUP Fitness. Driver : TBA.
7. Hegartys Ford & Aoife McGill PT. Driver : Ena Barrett, Relay for Life.
8. Kelly’s Lexus & TBA. Driver : Avril Roulston, Caffeine Hiker.
9. Diver’s Hyundai & Mt Errigal Leisure Centre, Driver : Emma Murray, Stylist.
10. Diver’s Hyundai & Rushe Fitness. Driver : John Breslin, Highland Radio.
11. Barry Browne Cars & BMS Warehouse Gym. Driver : Clare O’Donnell, Mary from Dungloe.

For fundraising purposes, payments or donations can be made to the account at A.I.B. Letterkenny in the name of Relay for Life Donegal. Details are: IE80 AIBK 93734728877038; BIC: AIBKIE2D (reference to be quoted car push) or via the Relay for Life website.

Relay for Life Donegal takes place at the ATU Letterkenny Campus from 4 PM on Saturday, May 24, to 4 PM on Sunday, May 25, 2025. All welcome.