Nathan carves a Leap ‘chopper' to raise funds for Air Ambulance

A HELICOPTER– complete with rotating blades – carved out of a tree trunk is the latest curiousity in Leap. 

Commissioned by Leap and District Vintage Club, it’s part of their build-up to the annual threshing festival, which takes place on Sunday, October 15th, to raise money for the Irish Community Air Ambulance.

The wood carver, Nathan Solomon, is on target to have the work finished in time for the festival, which promises to be a great day out with old time threshing, open air music and platform dancing.

But that’s not all: the members of the local vintage club have set themselves the Herculean task of completing a 500km vintage tractor run over a 24-hour period.

Diarmuid French, secretary of the local club, explained that the endurance run will involve eight tractors and 16 drivers taking part in a 24-hour relay.

Their journey will take them from Leap to Toormore, Kilcrohane, Castletownbere, Kilgarvan, Millstreet, Mallow, Ballincollig, Crosshaven, Kinsale, Clonakilty and back to Leap in time for the celebrations on Sunday, October 15th.

‘Last year we did 160 miles on the Ring of Kerry, but that was just a warm-up for this event,’ said Diarmuid, who is hoping that lots of money will be raised in the process for the Irish Community Air Ambulance. 

Every year, the money raised through prize draws, sponsorship and donations is given to a charity. This year, the club members chose the air ambulance project, which is working towards providing a comprehensive air ambulance service throughout Munster. Diarmuid made the point that Cork is 90 minutes by road, but the air ambulance could do the journey in a third of the time.

‘Everyone would benefit from an air ambulance service,’ said Diarmuid, especially in emergency situations, such as sporting, road and farming accidents.

In addition to selling tickets in local shops and businesses, the members have also written to 400 businesses throughout Cork and Kerry asking them to sponsor this very worthy fundraising event.

During the daytime, there are even collections boxes near to where Nathan is working on the helicopter sculpture. Diarmuid has called on people to ‘please give generously.’