In loving memory of Paddy The Holton family in Ireland sets a new world record of the most siblings ploughing a field simultaneously - and raises money for brain tumour support and research at the same time! The Holton Family Ireland
Editor’s note: This must be one of the most unusual activities that we have ever covered in ‘Brain Tumour’ magazine: fifteen siblings ploughing a field simultaneously to raise funds for brain tumour research and support. Not only did the Holton family in Ireland manage to do this but they set a new world record in the process!
P
addy Holton was one of seventeen children born to Willie and Eilish Holton of Cloona, Enfield which is located in County Kildare in Ireland. From an early age, Paddy had an interest in farm machinery, tractors, threshing machines and ploughs from growing up on the family farm. Paddy began work with Roinn Poist agus Telegrafa (The Department of Posts and Telegraphs) in 1973 and retired from Eircom after 38 years’ service in 2011. During this time Paddy made many lifelong friends. In 1985, Paddy married Bernie and they had two children Alice and Edward. Paddy always had time for a chat and loved to help others with board of management committees, the local cemetery committee and the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland, founded in 1844 and established to help people in need while seeking to achieve social justice and equality for all.
Paddy and all things mechanical A keen mechanic, Paddy was often fixing tractors, cars and other machines. Many Sundays involved outings to tractor runs, ploughing competitions and vintage shows both near and far. Paddy made many friends sharing stories at these events. When Paddy was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015, he was in the process of restoring a Ford 3600 Vintage tractor. In conjunction with the local Shamrock Car and Machinery Club, he was planning a challenge with his siblings to set a world record and raise funds for two organisations: Brain Tumour Ireland which supports brain cancer research and the Ross Nugent Foundation, in appreciation for the care he received in St. Clare’s Ward at the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. The Ross Nugent Foundation raises funds for equipment in cancer units in Irish hospitals including Beaumont Hospital, Ireland’s national centre for neurosurgery. Brain Tumour Ireland 98
Brain Tumour
Above: Paddy Holton, one of 17 siblings, inspired his brothers and sisters to set a new world record in his honour
is a national voluntary organisation providing information and support to brain tumour patients and their families and carers. It also promotes and funds medical research into brain tumours. Brain Tumour Ireland is funding a new brain tumour biobank in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, which encourages research aimed at individualised treatments and increasing survival rates for brain tumour patients. Unfortunately Paddy’s plans to fundraise for these two organisations were not to be, as he passed away before he