An illuminated tractor run was a glowing success and has raised over £4,000 for two important charities.

Pontfaen Young Farmers Club held the event following the disappointed of their previous tractor run being forced to be cancelled due to covid-19.

Hundreds of people turned out to see the procession at various places along the route. Santa and his elves brought a welcome smile to the children and handed out gifts to those gathered at Morrisons Car Park.

Pontfaen Young Farmers Club would like to thank Morgans Family Butchers and Youngs of Brecon for donating money to purchase chocolates for the children and thanks also goes to NFU Cymru for the loan of the model cow attached to Santa’s sleigh!

Club Secretary Sian Healey said: “Thanks to McCartneys LLP for permitting us to start the event at Brecon Market. Judging was adeptly conducted by Mr Gethin Havard, Brecknock YFC County President with the Best Dressed Tractor going to Mr Jamie Bufton of Battle Fawr. We extend our thanks to Gethin for his help and to Wynnstay for donating the prizes.”

The club would also like to offer its sincere thanks to Jo Evans, Grant Community Champion from Morrisons, for accommodating all the tractors in car park, donating food for the drivers, and giving out mince pies and sweets at the end.

The £4,200 that was raised during the event will be split between the Wales Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Cllr Iain Mcintosh stated “The Pontfaen YFC President’s Illuminated Charity Tractor Run was a fantastic event and hopefully, the first of many to come! Many residents gathered outside their homes and in villages to see around fifty vehicles, with festive lights and decorations, make their way from Brecon Livestock Market, around the route, to finish at Morrisons car park in Brecon.

“I would like to thank Sian Healey, Raiff Devlin, Jan Healey, Gaynor and Alun Morgan, and everyone else from Pontfaen YFC who helped organise the event to raise thousands of pounds for both the Wales Air Ambulance and Macmillan Cancer Support charities. I’d also like to thank Morrisons in Brecon for allowing the event to finish at their car park, where people gathered to view all the decorated tractors, and share a mince pie or two!”

Sian added: “The evening concluded with the raffle, thanks to all members who donated prizes including The Metropole Hotel, The Strand Café, Builth Wells, Fountain Inn, Builth Wells, thanks also to The Greyhound Hotel for selling tickets on the club’s behalf.”

Club Chaiman, Raiff Devlin, proposed a vote of thanks in gratitude to everyone who had helped in any way to make the event such a success.

Helen Pruett, Wales Air Ambulance community fundraiser, said: “A huge thank you to Pontfaen YFC who raised an incredible £4,200 for charity. The illuminated charity tractor run was a huge success, and everyone involved in the event should be immensely proud of themselves. The tractors looked fantastic! This donation will help our medics to be there for the people of Wales when they need us the most - 24/7. Thank you so much everyone.”

The Club would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support of our event; A D G Morgan Agri Contracting, Alpaca My Boots, Agri Torque Ltd, Bbi Group, Beacons Group, Brecon & Radnor Express, Caleb Roberts Insurance Services, Caroline’s Real Bread, CBS Ltd, C & J Davies Cwmachau Cabins, Clee Tompkinson & Francis, Cradoc Golf Club, D T Holloway, Epynt Holidays Ltd, Farmers’ Welsh Lavender Ltd, Hills, Ivor Duggan & Sons, J & C Griffiths, JHS Training,  Llandovery Tyres,  Lyndon R Jones Heating Services Ltd, Morgan’s Family Butchers, Parry & Pugh Funeral Directors, Phil Davies Haulage Ltd,  Pixelhaze, Spa Motors, Sunderlands, T Alun Jones, Ted Hopkins, The Strand Café, Wigwam Brecon, Williams Coaches, WW Bowen, Wynnstay, Youngs of Brecon.

There are several ways that the public can continue to support the Wales Air Ambulance Charity. These include online donations, signing up to the Charity’s Lifesaving Lottery or by coming up with innovative ways to fundraise. Further information can be found via www.walesairambulance.com. 

Alternatively, a £5 text-message donation can be made by texting the word HELI to 70711.