The UCD Agricultural Society has moved its annual raffle online in a bid to support its two chosen charities through the ongoing coronavirus situation.

At a time when college students are normally preparing for final exams and marts are a hive of activity, efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 has seen the closure of both.

That has not deterred the UCD ag soc. All proceeds from the raffle will go to St John's Cancer Ward in Crumlin Hospital, and Teac Tom which is an initiative that supports individuals or families affected by suicide, or contemplating suicide through a free counselling service.

Efforts

Ag soc auditor Aoife Bergin told the Irish Farmers Journal: “Usually we would be in marts selling these raffle tickets but obviously that can’t happen at the moment. However, even without fundraising events and the teashop, we wanted to continue our efforts.

“We felt we owed it to our generous sponsors who have donated such great prizes and to the charities themselves who are working on the frontline supporting so many families.”

Prizes

First prize is Ardlea Natalie, a pedigree Limousin heifer donated by the Irish Limousin Society, Dan Tynan and Kevin Bohan. Natalie is a granddaughter of Ardlea Electra, overall national Limousin champion at Tullamore Show in 2011.

Second and third prize are a tonne of feed from Roche's Feeds and Aurivo. Fourth is a hotel break for two with dinner in the Mount Woseley Hotel, Carlow.

Other prizes include a yearlong HerdWatch subscription, a voucher for Eurogene and calf jackets.

A donation of €5 secures one ticket while €10 will purchase three entries to the draw. In less than 24 hours, over €1,300 has been donated.

Those wishing to enter the raffle can do so here.