‘Betsy’ takes on Route 66 for the Irish Cancer Society
'Betsy' is all set to ride the length of America's most famous road to drive Cancer Research forward
On Tuesday, October 2nd ‘Betsy’ the vintage tractor along with her team, Maurice Fitzgerald, Frank Meara, Ogie Moran and Mark Walsh headed up by Kerry man Kevin Curran, will set off from Santa Monica Los Angeles to travel America’s world famous Route 66 in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.' 'Betsy’ and the team will travel a distance of 2,500 miles along Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago over the next 15 days. This is the first year that ‘Betsy’ will raise money for cancer research in the USA. The tractor run began in 2010 after Kevin lost his wife Eileen to cancer. He wanted to do something to make a difference and prevent others from losing their loved ones to this terrible disease. Eileen had named Kevin’s 1963 Fordson Dexta tractor ‘Betsy’ years ago and Kevin felt that ‘Betsy’ might be just the thing to help him, his family & friends fundraise for cancer research. Speaking ahead of the journey, Kevin Curran said “We have chosen the Irish Cancer Society as each one of us on the team has been touched by cancer either directly or indirectly and we want the funds raised to go to fund cancer research so that future patients have better outcomes." Also speaking about the initiative, Irish Cancer Society CEO, John McCormack, said “We are thrilled by this fundraising endeavour and the level of organisation and enthusiasm that has gone into it. Kevin and his team have taken on this fundraiser for the last three years raising significant money for the Irish Cancer Society and to see him take this fundraiser across the Atlantic shows a huge amount of creativity and passion for the cause. On behalf of everyone at the Society, we would like to extend our gratitude to Kevin Curran, his team and to all those kind people who we know will support the team along the way. Your help will mean a lot to the people with cancer and their families who rely on us throughout Ireland.” 'Betsy' will be travelling through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. You can keep up to date with the progress of Kevin, 'Betsy' and the rest at the Betsy Route 66 Facebook page, while you can support 'Betsy' at the MyCharity.ie page, "Route 66 Betsy the Tractor".
Betsy the tractor travelling Route 66 October 2nd , 2012 – Route
Day 1 - Santa Monica Pier to Ludlow
Day 2 - Ludlow – Toprock
Day 3 - Toprock – Hackberry
Day 4 - Hackberry – Winona
Day 5 - Winona – Albuquerque
Day 6 - Santa Fe loop Albuquerque to Santa Rosa ORthe new R66 Albuquerque, Moriarty, Clines Corner to Santa Rosa
Day 7 - Santa Rosa to Glenrio
Day 8 - Glenrio – Jericho
Day 9 - Jericho – Clinton
Day 10 - Clinton – Red Fork
Day 11 - Red Fork – Baxter Springs
Day 12 - Baxter Springs – Buckholm
Day 13 - Buckholm – St. Clair
Day 14 - St. Clair – Springfield
Day 15 - Springfield - Chicago/Jolliet
Total Mileage = 2060 miles approx.
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Left to right: Frank O'Sulliivan, Ogie Moran, Maurice Fitzgerald, Kevin Curran, Gerald Sugrue and Mark Walsh. In the background is Ballinskelligs Bay and Hog's Head. The yellow building close by the bay is Waterville House and Skellig's Bay Golf Course rises up behind it. In the far distance is Coomachista Pass, one of the most scenic spots on the Ring of Kerry.
