Hello Everyone! This is our second Christmas Tractor run in this area. We have a fantastic fleet of fairy lit tractors coming from surrounding areas to show our support for the local charities that look after us throughout the year. My name is Mary. My husband and I are organising the event. We are third generation farmers in Bramley. The tractor run has been named after my late father; who without him none of this would be possible. The two local charities we have selected to support are Basingstoke Paediatric Ward and Victoria’s Promise.

Funds raised will be split with Hampshire Hospitals Charity to support the paediatric wards at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. This area of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) will be able to utilise funds for a number of benefits, which could include: investing in equipment, enhancing patient environment, improving facilities, education and so much more. Together with its community, Hampshire Hospitals Charity work to make sure that patients at HHFT continue to receive outstanding care, that staff are supported to do their jobs and that the trust’s hospitals are a comfortable and welcoming place for everyone including patients, loved ones and staff.

The second local charity is Victoria’s Promise. This is a local charity that has supported me personally and many others in the area. In 2012 when I was 27 I heard those 3 words nobody wants to hear “you have cancer.” There was very little support locally and I felt very isolated being diagnosed at such a young age. I was then later diagnosed with secondary breast cancer age 31; when my daughter was 10 months old. However, this time Victoria’s Promise had started supporting women in the local area. This charity didn’t just offer me a leaflet and walk away. They offered me real tangible services. My daughter is now 7 and as you can imagine a 7 year old can have a lot of tricky questions. So of the hardest being “why can’t I have a brother or sister? Will I get cancer mummy?” The counsellor paid for by Victoria’s Promise has helped us navigate all sorts of cancer related questions and is only ever a phone call away. We really would have been lost without this support. Victoria’s Promise also offer cleaning, childcare help, oncology yoga and many more services that support young women with cancer. They really do make a big difference at a time when you need so much support not just medically.