Greenlough man to 'draw silage' from Derry to Cork in aid of charity

Michael Scullin and Conor McGowan from the Limited Slip Differences Podcast are undertaking a fundraising challenge with a difference in memory of lost loved ones. 

Both men have suffered losses within their family as a result of cancer, with 2025 being Conor's mother’s 10th anniversary and Michael's father's 20th anniversary.

The fundraiser will see the pair ‘draw silage’ approximately 300 miles to raise money for Marie Curie. 

As it stands the pair have raised £6,000 out of their goal of £10,000 for the charity.

The pair hope to take on the challenge of driving their tractors with silage trailers from Ballyness in County Derry to Ahiohill Vintage silage day in Co. Cork on Sunday, August 3. 

Greenlough man Michael Scullin spoke to the County Derry Post about how the idea for the challenge started.

“We had been down at Ahiohill before and thought we would love to go back this year and make a charity event from it. This is a milestone anniversary for both Conor and I having both lost a parent to cancer,” he explained.

Reflecting on his father’s battle with cancer and the work of Marie Curie, Michael continued: “My dad was a healthy, nice, gentleman when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was a hardworking dairy farmer, he would've been up early mornings until late at night.  All of a sudden out of nowhere he was diagnosed with cancer.  In 2004 my sister and I sat down and he told us he had cancer. It was a massive shock and sad to watch. We had seen no signs that he was suffering. Within a matter of months he passed away. It was a relatively short illness period and he deteriorated so quickly. This was a man who was always on his feet and he went to someone who could barely breathe or walk  by the end of it. He lost his battle in May 2005. I was only 11 years old.” 

Michael’s friend Conor also lost his mother to breast cancer 10 years ago. 

Michael added: “One of the reasons we choose Maire Curie was that they were so good to my dad and Conor’s mum.

“At one stage Conor’s mum actually worked for Marie Curie too as a trainee nurse. She did work for Marie Curie even when she was unwell herself. She was a great woman.”

The pair will be leaving County Derry at 4.30am on Friday, August 1. They hope to travel the 200 miles to Thurles in County Tipperary on the first day. 

The pair would welcome anyone else willing to join them on the journey. 

The following day they will make their way on to Cork. 

They will be documenting their journey and stopping with some ‘TikTokers’ along the way.

Michael and Conor would like to thank sponsors Grassmen, who  have sorted them out with a tractor and fuel for their trip. 

They would also like to thank McKenna Haulage who will be following them closely on the journey in case of a breakdown.

Local sponsors also include Specialist Joinery Maghera, James Donnelly and Sons Portglenone, MNH Construction Portglenone, BRM Group in Eglinton and JB Tyres in Tobermore who were all very generous in their donations. 

Donations to Michael and Conor's fundraiser can be made here