A Co Down based cycling and running club are set to host an ‘Irish first’ to raise funds for Life & Time – a local charity dedicated to providing end of life support for those wishing to die at home.
The ROSSI Rostrevor have launched the first ever All-Ireland Pantomime Horse Derby.
And families across Newry and Mourne are invited to come along to the event, to be held on Sunday, September 16, at the historic Rostrevor House, and sponsored by local couple Gerard and Kathleen Tinnelly.
The Tinnelly family have opened the grounds of Rostrevor House to host this unique event which will see companies sponsor 20 pantomime horses as they ‘race’ against each other in a specially created arena.
The event will also have a garden fete with food stalls, live music, games, old style fun fair, tug of war, tossing the sheaf and much more.
ROSSI spokesperson Martin McGinn said: “This is the first time an event like this has been organised in Ireland and it’s going to be fantastic fun and a great family event in a unique location.
“We’re inviting families across Newry and Mourne to come along for what will be a wonderful family day out.
“We’re are still looking for local companies to get involved and we have a few horses we need to secure sponsorship for.
“We provide the costumes and coordinate the entire event including insurance – we just need a company to sponsor the horse and two volunteers who are up for an afternoon’s craic!
“There’s huge potential for great PR and social marketing for local firms involved at this unique family event in aid of a very worthy cause, so please do get in touch with @ROSSI on facebook or Twitter for more information.”
Life & Time is a registered charity formed by Rostrevor local, Dr Henry McLaughlin. It has recently been granted charity status and has recruited, and is in the process of training, a number of nurses to deliver end of life care at home in the Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and Burren region at present.
