An illuminated tractor run organised by a Powys family raised over £4,000 for Kidney Research UK after one member received a life-saving transplant.

Having held an illuminated tractor run on December 17, 2023, Sarah Gwalchmai and her family announced in January that they had raised £4,315 for Kidney Research UK, with 65 tractors participating in the run.

Having received a lifesaving transplant from a kidney donated by her husband, Mrs Gwalchmai decided to organise an event to raise money and began formulating the idea after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sarah and her husband, Gwyn, along with her parents Dennis and Lyn Price, had tractors meet at Criggion Quarry car park before embarking on a convoy through Crew Green, Melverley, Kinnerley, Dovaston, Wolfs Head, Nesscliffe and Pentre.

Sarah said: “I was born with a condition, called Congenital Nephoritic Syndrome, which caused my kidneys to fail when I was nine weeks old. I spent a lot of time in hospital as a child.

“I was on dialysis for two years before I was lucky enough to receive a kidney transplant, at the age of six.

"Nicknamed ‘Sidney the Kidney’, it kept me well for over 20 years, until, my health deteriorated. In the summer of 2017 my husband, Gwyn, donated his kidney to me. We are both doing really well now.

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“Therefore, we decided to raise vital funds for Kidney Research UK to help the charity support projects and research.”

Along the route, the convoy stopped at the Royal Hill Edgerley where the best decorated tractor was decided before the tractors were invited to tour Seven Oaks Caravan Park for a meander round the site, with the route ending at The Old Hand And Diamond Coedway.

County Times: Sarah Gwalchmai, her husband Gwyn, and parents Dennis and Lyn Price dressed up for the tractor run.Sarah Gwalchmai, her husband Gwyn, and parents Dennis and Lyn Price dressed up for the tractor run. (Image: Sarah Gwalchmai)

Sarah added: “We were overwhelmed by peoples generosity and would like to thank everybody who donated raffle prizes, gave donations, supported the event and our volunteers to helped us, we couldn't have done it all without them.

“It is so wonderful to have been able to raise such a fabulous amount of money for a very worthy charity, whilst everyone had lots of fun.

“It was so touching to see so many families out in the villages waving a cheering as we drove past, seeing all the happy faces and hearing all the lovely comments makes it all worthwhile.”