The 5th annual Glenamaddy Tractor Run takes place this weekend, Sunday December 4, in aid of Join Our Boys Trust a charitable organisation that raises awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that took the life of 16-year-old Archie Naughton in July this year.
Archie and his two younger brothers, George and Issac, all have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD ), which is a genetic disorder caused by a lack of a protein called Dystrophin. People with DMD have a greatly reduced lifespan, and often will lose their ability to walk in childhood. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment or cure for DMD, and it is a life ending illness.
Organisers of the Glenamaddy Tractor Run, Claire Dolan and Declan Geraghty, have said on the event’s iDonate page that when they started planning the event, “never” did they think that “Archie wouldn’t be here” to witness the day, but it is a fitting tribute to Archie who was farming mad.
With this year’s prize raffles including; a 2003 BMW, a Limousin Belgian Blue cross weanling heifer and 2 bales of haylage, are all items Archie would have been delighted to take home.
“Farming was a full-time job for Archie, school was just an inconvenience,” said his mother, Paula Naughton, with a laugh, “He lived and breathed farming and heifers, and had his own Limousin and Belgian Blues. He was always off with his friend Mark, farming with him in Oran, Co Roscommon and plotting and scheming things for the farm.
“Before he died, Archie had loads of plans with his friends for the Tractor Run and what they would do, or how they would decorate the tractors.”
Archie had many loves alongside farming, such as rugby and playing the drums, and was unique for a child with DMD, as he refused to slow down or let his illness stop him from achieving his goals.
“Archie was quite unusual for a child with Duchenne. He was still using a manual wheelchair, driving tractors and had life ambitions. He wanted to live in his Granddad’s farm, which is between Ballinasloe and Athlone and was absolutely fixated on getting machinery and equipment adapted so he could use them.”
“He had a John Deere Gator and got an engineer to come out and change the seat so it could come down, he could get into the chair. Archie was always thinking about the farm and how he could adapt things so he could use them or drive them.”
All three boys, Archie, George and Issac were diagnosed with DMD in 2012, and their parents, Paula and Padraic Naughton, have seen their physical ability deteriorate as the disease takes its toll on them.
“Time is against us. It is against all children with Duchenne. This is a disease where there is no treatment of cure and we would welcome anyone who would like to get in touch or donate, anyone who would like to spread awareness or fundraise or to say a prayer for the boys,” said Paula.
Padraic and Paula founded Join Our Boys in 2014, and was described as a “community’s response to one family’s crisis”. Join Our Boys has two main projects that it fundraises for, one being translational research projects that “have the potential to help everyone with Duchenne” and the second being to cover the costs of the complex needs that the boys have and to ensure they “remain as independent as possible for as long as possible.”
“We owe a massive gratitude to Claire Dolan and Declan Geraghty for organising the Tractor Run,” said Paula, adding, “If Archie were here, he would say thank you to everybody. He would want to see as many tractors, trailers and motorbikes at the Tractor Run as possible, and would love to meet and talk to people.
“When Archie was dying, he said to me, please please don’t give up and stop what you’re doing. Get something to help the boys because I don’t want them to go through this pain.”
The Glenamaddy Tractor Run this year will take place on this Sunday, December 4, starting at 10am. People can purchase tickets on the iDonate website, by searching ‘Glenamaddy Tractor Run’ or by clicking here.
For those wanting to donate, or get in touch with Join Our Boys, can do so via their website.
