A CHARITY AUCTION FOR FORD PARTS

Ford fans are being asked to sort out their unwanted tractor spares and memorabilia for an online charity auction to be held in September to raise funds for research into two rare diseases. It is being organised by former Silsoe and McCormick test engineer James Bacon, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2018, his father, Somerset tractor dealer and Ford tractor collector Alastair Bacon, and a small team of friends.

The impetus for fund raising came when the four-year-old son of a friend was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“I felt I needed to help raise awareness of these relatively unknown diseases,” explains James, “and attempt to raise money for research so they can be better understood by doctors. MND in particular seems to be becoming more prevalent in younger people, yet still very little is known about it.”

After considering a number of tractor-related fund-raising ideas, James and his friends decided on a charity online tractor parts auction. Auctioneers, Greenslade Taylor Hunt partner Tom Mellor said the idea is feasible and the firm is supporting the venture as is CLASSIC TRACTOR columnist and Big Ford 6 Cylinder Tractor Register organiser Andrew Collier.