Vintage drive to raise funds

IT IS a vintage fundraising drive with a difference.

Staff and students from Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) are planning to use vintage cars and motorcycles to drive 600 kilometres from Mizen to Malin. And one of the passengers plans to knit all the way – which is likely to be a first.

Mary Goggin, who works at the institute’s chemistry department, is aiming to create history with the knitting challenge and her creation will be put on the CIT website.

Dan Kelleher, who helped organise the fundraiser, said some of the vintage vehicles being used for the three-day trip – from June 12-14 – include a 1936 Ford Model Y, a 1964 VW Beetle and a 1978 Mini 1275GT.

“We’re doing this to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, because we all know people who suffer from it,” Mr Kelleher said.

Among the motorcycles being used is a 1959 NSU 175.

It is one of only three such motorcycles brought into this country and was totally restored as a project in 1997 by Richard Cullinane, who also works at the institute.

A 1979 R80-7 BMW, a Harley Davidson and a number of Honda 50s are expected to travel as well.

The event was launched recently by Miss Cork, Etaoin O hAilpin, who is a third-year business student at CIT.

lAnyone wishing to make a donation can do so by lodging money to the CIT branch of AIB. The sort code is 930121 and the account number 16075089

For more information see www.cit.ie