Cannonball raises more than €300,000 for Jack and Jill

THE 2025 Cannonball Run which ended in Naas on 14 September in front of 30,000 people, has raised €317,819 for its chosen charity, the Jack and Jill Foundation, and this will fund almost 18,000 hours of in home care and respite for almost 500 families.

This means that since Cannonball partnered up with Jack and Jill in 2022, it has raised a staggering €781,914 for the charity, and a grand total of €2,271,716 for Irish charities since the Cannonball Run began in 2009.

From 12-14 September over 250,000 spectators lined streets across Ireland for Cannonball Ireland, after setting out from the Johnstown Estate in Enfield.

Over 200 spectacular supercars, hypercars, celebrities, helicopters and colourful Cannonball drivers and participants in costume rolled into towns and villages creating unforgettable free family entertainment.

The spectacular finish line in Naas this year was the largest finish line ever for the supercar event with big thanks to all of the spectators and families who came out and gave generously.

“It was comparative to when Kildare won Leinster in 1998, the crowds were three and four deep all the way from the Racecourse to Swan’s, estimated to be around 30,000 people,” said Alan Bannon, the Naas businessman and founder of the Cannonball.

Funds were raised through a number of initiatives, including the nationwide campaign ‘When You Fill, Support Jack and Jill’ by Circle K Ireland, which saw 1c from every litre of fuel sold donated during the Cannonball weekend.

That campaign alone generated €100,000, funding the equivalent of 5,555 hours of specialist in-home nursing care for families supported by Jack and Jill.

The Foundation funds and provides up to 100 hours per month of in-home nursing care, respite support and end-of-life care for children from birth to seven years of age with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs.

“All of us at Jack and Jill are blown away by the funds raised this year through our partnership with Cannonball and Circle K, translating to 17,710 hours of in-home nursing and respite care for 456 Jack and Jill families nationwide,” said Deirdre Walsh, CEO of Jack and Jill.

Over our three-year partnership, an incredible €781,914 has been raised, funding 43,438 hours of vital care” This partnership has been a true game-changer not just in funds and care hours, but in community spirit and meaningful connection. Travelling with the Cannonball crew and meeting our wonderful families is always a joy. We’re so grateful to the Cannonball community.”