The first annual Joyce Country Truck Run & Light Show, in aid of Galway Parkinsons Association and My Canine Companion – Autism and Therapy Services will take place on the 11 December 2021 from Peacocks’ Hotel, Maam Cross, County Galway at 5pm.
The event is set to turn the Joyce Country region into a dazzling festival of lights with a convoy of trucks travelling from Peacocks’ Hotel through to Clonbur village via Maam, Cornamona, Cloughbreac and finishing in Clonbur village, where the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree will finish off the evening.
The Truck Run is in aid of two charities – Galway Parkinsons Association and My Canine Companion – Autism and Therapy Services, in support of two local families in the area. The launch event heard from Marie Cahill Chairperson of the Galway Parkinsons Association; Paddy Rock, a member of the Galway Parkinsons Association and founder of the Joyce Country Truck Run and Aoife Conroy, the mother of Robbie Conroy-Dermody, a young boy who received his assistance dog Archie from My Canine Companion – Autism and Therapy Services.
Marie Cahill informed that Galway Parkinsons Association provides physiotherapy and speech and language therapy for over 100 members per week: “Therapies as such are vital for the members of this group, the level of support at the event from members showed just how important this therapy is to the people of Galway and their families”. Paddy Rock, explained how the group has “helped him manage his Parkinsons with tips and helpful information from other members and of course the therapies the association provides. He said he always had an idea that he would love to make a Joyce Country version of the Coca-Cola Christmas advert with all the trucks illuminated in the Christmas spirit.
Aoife Conroy’s son Robbie is autistic and was delighted to have received Archie, Robbie’s assistance puppy in training last August, and Aoife mentioned how Archie has changed her son’s life. She said that Robbie made a friend on his first day of school, something that would otherwise be very difficult for him.
My Canine Companion, trains assistance dogs for children with autism and other needs, the dogs primary role is to be a safety anchor when out in public as the child is attached to the dog’s vest via a safety belt, ensuring the child is safe at all times. They are companions, offering sensory and emotional support and most importantly, a friend.
Events like the Joyce Country Truck Run are vital in order to raise funds for these charities as they depend on fundraising and donations. The past eighteen months have made
fundraising very difficult for all charities and so every effort must be made to raise as much funding as possible with this event.
The event is open to tractor-units and rigid trucks only – no trailers!
To register for the event and how to donate please contact:
Email: joycecountrytruckrun2021@gmail.com
Facebook: JoyceCountry Truck Run – iDonate: https://www.idonate.ie/JoyceCountryTruckRun
Phone: 0876220866/0872439760/0877783825
