Kildare charity run in memory of Ross raises over €25k

AN INAUGRAL charity event held across south Kildare and Carlow has raised just short of an astonishing €25,000 in just one day.

The Ross Kelly Memorial Run was mixed vintage vehicle rally that drew almost 300 cars, trucks, motorbikes, and tractors all at least older than 25 years old to St Laurence’s GAA Club at 1pm last Saturday, 4 July.

The event was organised by Teresa Kelly, a pharmacy tech from Athy, in memory of her late husband Ross, a local landscape gardener, who sadly passed away in March 2025 aged just 44.

“We did this to thank Waterford Hospice because he was there a lot and they took great care of him and this was our giveback to them,” Teresa explained.

“Appropriately, Saturday was his birthday, and our wedding anniversary.

“We’re also going to include St Vincent’s here as a local charity to donate to.

“The whole thing took an hour and 20 minutes, although the tractors took a shorter route, obviously.

“We started at the GAA Club, went through Castledermot, Carlow town, back to Athy and back out to Laurence’s again.

“Ross was into vintage cars, and owned a Mk 2Escort, a Sierra Cosworth, and a Massey 35.

“He was not the boy-racer type, he’d hate to be called that!” laughed Teresa.

“He was into his classic cars.

“We had 300 vehicles, and hundreds of people, it was colossal, we were overwhelmed with the support.

“I went down to Waterford last week and we got 10 hospice buckets going round on the go all day, day and night.

“We’re looking at €24,000 and change, I was up counting until 3am this morning!” Teresa was joined in the organising by her two sons James (14) and Jack (11), father-in-law Syl, and sister-in-law Naomi “who were all there on the day”.

“James and Jack picked out the best vehicle in each category after the run.

“Then there was the raffle, the barbeque, then a DJ, and then the band The Auld Brigade who played the night for us as well.

“We thought we were going to get a crowd, but we were overwhelmed by the numbers.

“The atmosphere up there was absolutely amazing, and we’re gong to do it again next year.

“We decided on the day, and St Laurence’s said they would be 100 per cent happy to have us again!”