Car fans in for a treat at classic show being held in Derry this weekend
Eglinton Classic Car Club will hold its 20th annual show this weekend.
The Classic and Vintage Vehicle show on Sunday, April 3, at City of Derry Rugby Club will raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘Western Appeal’.
The local car club chooses a different charity each year to benefit from the event.
Over the years it has raised £80,000 at previous shows and it aims to set new records this year to help support the vital work carried out by MacMillan in the North West.
A spokesman for the car club said: “Eglinton Classic Car Club is delighted to be working with Macmillan Cancer Support especially as they are investing in the local area to improve the range of services they provide to everyone in the Northwest area.
“We were shocked by some statistics provided by MacMillan so we felt we had to support the work which they do in this area. Every day 30 people in Northern Ireland hear the devastating news that they have cancer and 11 people die from their illness.
“Advances in diagnosis and treatment mean that more people are living with cancer and surviving beyond cancer. Current trends will see the number of people living with cancer double between 2010 and 2030.”
The cancer charity has proposed building a Heath & Wellbeing Campus at Altnagelvin hospital.
On June 1, 2015, Macmillan NI, officially launched a new appeal the Macmillan Western Appeal which is an initiative between the charity and the Western Trust.
They aim to build a new Health and Wellbeing Campus on the site of Altnagelvin Hospital for patients, carers and their families living with cancer and other long term conditions.
It will be comprised of a new purpose built Macmillan Information and Support Centre adjacent to Agnes Jones House which is being refurbished and the two buildings will be interlinked by a walk way.
This campus will compliment the new radiotherapy building due to be running by Autumn 2016 and they need to raise £1.5million to fund this essential service, so every penny raised will be used to ensure no local person faces cancer alone.
A spokeswoman from Macmillan said: “We are absolutely delighted to be the charity partner of Eglinton Classic Car Club and especially as it’s the 20th anniversary of their show.
“Everyone at the club has been very supportive of Macmillan and has shown great generosity to our charity. All of the money raised by this show will be used to help fund our new Information and Support Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital.”
Last year attendance increased in terms of vehicles and spectators and it aims to break all records at its 20th show.
Over the past few years we have had up to 300 vehicles on display. These include cars, commercial vehicles, tractors, motor cycles and stationary engines.
A spokesman said: “Every year we see vehicles which have not attended before so there is always something different to see. We always attract well known vehicles and some which are rarer.
“But we also want to maintain this show as a family day out with music, line dancing and Irish dancing displays, a rescue display and a home safety display by the NI Fire and Rescue Service.
“There is also a super prize draw and tickets can be purchased from any club member and from Macmillan Cancer Support before the show date. Tickets will also be on sale on the day. All proceeds from the event and from the draw will go to Macmillan Cancer Support.”
This year a special milestone for the club will see a wider range of stalls providing refreshments and novelty items and fairground type stalls for kids of all ages.
All exhibitors are asked to be at the show ground for 10am with the general public asked to arrive from 11.00am on Sunday, April 3.
For more details on the Club you can visit www.eglingtonclassicclub.co.uk