Land’s End to John O’Groats tractor trek closing in on fundraising goal after successful completion of mammoth 16-day journey
An epic challenge which saw a semi-retired farmer take a vintage tractor from Land’s End to John O’Groats is closing in on its fundraising target.
Ian Jackson successfully completed his mammoth 16-day journey to the top of mainland Scotland in a 64-year-old Massey Ferguson on Thursday.
En route he and his venerable vehicle, which has a top speed of 18 miles an hour, battled a wide range of terrains and conditions - including road crash detours and, as he started the final day, torrential rain.
But he and his tractor - and his support team - successfully arrived at the famous John O’Groats signpost in glorious sunshine to complete the epic journey.
And, thanks to the support of those inspired by his trip, and others he met along the away, he is rapidly closing in on his £20,000 target - with more money still rolling in.
The cash will be split between two causes - Pickups for Peace, which sends 4x4s containing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and Cancer Research UK.
Two separate fundraising pages have been set up for each of the two charities, with a £10,000 target being aimed at for each. At the time of writing, the page in aid of Pickups for Peace was just over £1000 short of its goal, and Cancer Research UK’s page was roughly two-thirds of the way to its target.
Commenting after completing the journey, he said: “Well we made it, after 16 days on the road we have finished “Jacko’s John O Groats’ Journey”. We have had many laughs along the way. And only a little grumpiness, apologies to [family-friend] Fran Van Rooyen and [my wife] Chris. Thanks to my family for all their support throughout you are stars .
“To all our visitors on our journey you made a difference. The Whittles and McGinleys thanks for hosting us and cheering us on. Everyone who has sent donations, well done and I promise the money will be put to good use. To all the total strangers who peeped your horn and cheered me on, you made it easier for me. To all the people we chatted to along the way, you made our journey truly memorable.
“Lastly to Chris and Fran, you have been stars, you have picked me up when I was down and cheered me on throughout . Cheers everybody for being involved.”
Mr Jackson, who hails from north Northumberland, set off on the epic 850 mile journey on May 14, passing through Bodmin, Tiverton, Bristol, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Wigan, Preston, Lancaster, Kendal, Carlisle, Dumfries, Kilmarnock, Glasgow, Crianlarich, Fort William, Inverness, and Wick before successfully reaching his end goal at John O’Groats on Thursday.
It was quite the trek for his trusty tractor, a Massey Ferguson 65 multipower that dates back to August 1961, which was fitted out with indicators, a rear-view mirror, hazard flashing light and a sprung seat ahead of the long drive.
Ian, Chris and Fran have all driven vehicles for Pickups for Peace to Ukraine to help the war effort and feel passionately that now more than ever this aid is so important.
They also know family and friends who have lost their lives to cancer, and others who have survived thanks to treatments developed with support from charities.
And with Ian’s epic tractor journey inspiring many messages of support, there’s a good chance the two £10,000 targets will be reached.
To donate to the fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/page/jackos-john-o-groats-journey or https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/jackos-john-ogroats-journey.