Farming community raise thousands with epic tractor run after accident left worker Annie paralysed

The farming community in Shropshire have backed a machinery dealer with a mammoth tractor run to raise money for two charities that saved the life of a woman from Shrewsbury, who suffered an accident earlier this year.

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Annabelle Farmer, known as Annie, says her “life was changed forever”, when just days before her wedding in May this year she was involved in a serious accident that left her paralysed and in a wheelchair.

Annie works for her family’s agricultural machinery dealership, Edwards & Farmer Ltd, and when colleagues heard of her accident, they said they knew they had to do something.

Work pals William Carlyle, Gavin Tomkinson and Doug McCowan decided to do a tractor run to raise money for Annie’s chosen charities, but said they were not expecting the turnout they had.

On Sunday, more than 140 tractors started at the Red Lion pub in Longden Common for their tractor run across the Shropshire Hills and finished at Edwards and Farmer's yard in Chatford, Bayston Hill.

William Carlyle, one of the organisers, said: “Earlier this year, Annie was in an accident two weeks before her wedding that left her paralysed.

“She will be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life, so after the accident, we thought we had to do something and perhaps raise money for whatever charity she deemed fit.

“We were not expecting that many tractors though. It was a serious number.

“I thought we would get maybe 50 but it gained traction and surpassed our expectations.

“We have a large customer base and they all got behind us. Other tractor dealers from around here and from far away also wanted to get involved so it grew and grew. We even had a dealer travel from Dorset to take part.”

It is estimated that the tractor run raised around £40,000 according to Annie, who says the money is going to her chosen charities: Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and Horatio’s Garden.

Annie said: “Midlands Air Ambulance Charity were there when I needed them most, providing critical care at the scene before airlifting me to The Royal Stoke University Hospital in just 20 minutes.

“Later in my recovery, while at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, I discovered Horatio’s Garden. At a time when I was struggling to come to terms with how much my life had changed, the garden gave me somewhere away from the clinical hospital environment to spend time outside with my family and friends. It gave me freedom, normality and hope when I needed it most.

“That is why we are raising money for these two incredible charities. The team came up with the idea of the Charity Tractor Run – "Supporting Annie All the Way Home" as a way of giving something back to the two charities that have played such an important part in my journey. I will forever be grateful to my team for all their support.

“One charity was there when every minute mattered, and the other was there when I needed to start finding my way forward.

“By raising as much as we can, we hope to give something back and help both charities continue to be there for other people and families when they need them most.”

Annie added: “I'm so proud of my team, my family and all of our friends for the love and effort that can gone into this event. ”

And they are set to have raised more than £40,000 for Annie’s chosen good causes.

The JustGiving page for Annie’s tractor run is still live and open to donations and can be accessed here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/eandftractorrun