A SPONSORED tractor run has raised a whopping amount of money for an important charity.

Furness and District Tractor run 2021 annual event happened on the first weekend of September which saw over 50 tractors setting off from Grizebeck and taking on a rural route through local villages and towns over 30 miles has raised over £7,000 for St Mary’s Hospice.

Karen Higgs, 41 along with her partner Alan Irving, 47 organised the event to raise money for St Marys Hospice in Ulverston as Karen use to work there and appreciates all the work they do.

She said: “St Mary’s has touched everyone in one way or another from family relatives and friends, someone they know has been involved with St Mary’s somehow.

“It’s such an important facility in the Furness district area that they always need local support.

“In 2019 when we first started the run it was St Mary’s 30th anniversary and we knew the people who previously organised the run and we re-banded it all and put at £30 minimum sponsor for everyone taking part and a £15 entry fee, which includes lunch and breakfast. Anything that goes over will go into the pot for the hospice as well.

“Most people were happy with the new rules which was just brilliant.

“We have done raffles and raised £700 for that from local businesses donating great prizes.

Karen said the day was absolutely spectacular from start to finish with spectators showing their support and donating to the JustGiving page on the day.

She said: “People were so willing to raise money from the spectators to the people involved.

“There was so many people on the streets of Ulverston and Dalton especially waving and cheering at us, it was such an amazing day and quite a lot of drivers were overwhelmed.

“People saw us on our tractors and heard we were raising money for St Mary’s from social media and spread the word and we managed to raise £500 just through that.”

Florist at Ellie's Designer Florist, Ulverston, Karen and her partner Alan who works as a farmer at Dove Ford Farm have already started planning for the 2022 event, looking at new routes and ultimately raising more for the hospice.