Tractor run raises £17k in memory of farmer

The event was in memory of Will 'Choc' Roberts, who died in December 2022

A festive tractor run has raised almost £17,500 for charity, in memory of a young farmer who died of a brain tumour.

The Oswestry Illuminated Tractor Run, which took place on 14 December, featured more than 100 tractors and a team of 100 people collecting donations.

The tractors embarked on a 38-mile route through 11 villages around Oswestry.

Taking place for the second consecutive year, the event was in memory of Will 'Choc' Roberts, who died in December 2022.

Will Roberts, fondly called 'Choc' because of his love of chocolate, died of a brain tumour at the age of just 26

It was organised by Will's parents, Dave and Sue Roberts, as well as Mike Lade and the Whittington and Oswestry YFC, a rural youth organisation which Will had been the chairman of.

The fundraising total is an increase of £5,000 more than last year's event and will be donated to the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund.

Organiser Mike Lade said the team had been "totally amazed" by the level of support for the event, which the number of people involved "greatly increasing" from last year.

Mr Lade said: "I hope Sue and Dave Roberts think this was a good epitaph to Choc and has now become an annual event in the Oswestry diary."

More than 100 tractors took part in the fundraising event

The tractors made their way along a 38-mile route through 11 villages

Naomi Atkin, CEO of Lingen Davies, said: "A massive thank you to everyone involved in organising and supporting the event, in particular Dave and Sue Roberts who continue to fundraise for the charity in memory of their son Will.

"Organising an event of this nature and on this scale is no small feat and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has been a part of the tractor run.

"This is a massive event and to raise £17,000 is a phenomenal tribute to Will Roberts and his family."

Speaking about the work the charity does in the community, Ms Atkin said: "As a charity we fundraise to support services for those impacted by cancer throughout Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Mid Wales.

"This money will go towards ensuring local people can access the best cancer services, equipment and kit locally at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital's Lingen Davies Cancer Centre, as well as furthering our programme of holistic therapies available to patients living with and beyond in the community."