Rally for Haiti drives support for Haiti charity

Nationwide road trip will raise funds to rebuild Haiti following Hurricane Matthew

A FORMER Northern Ireland championship rally driver is coming out of retirement to help raise vital funds for the people of Haiti living with the legacy of Hurricane Matthew.

Ronnie Foreman, well-known business leader and former Commissioner for the Port of Belfast, will lead a road trip around Ireland on behalf of the charity Haven which works solely in Haiti – the Caribbean country struck by three natural disasters in just seven years.

The 72-year old’s marathon endeavour follows last October’s devastating hurricane, the most powerful in a decade, which killed close to 1000 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

The rally embarks from Lisburn’s Island Arts Centre on Monday, April 3, passing through Belfast, Londonderry and Donegal before taking in Sligo, Galway and Limerick the next day.

Ronnie will head to Cork on April 5 before travelling to Kilkenny, Swords and Dublin on April 6, finally heading back to the Belfast finishing line in Northern Ireland on April 7.

The former rally driver – also previously chairman of ten leading companies across Northern Ireland, the Republic and the US – will take to the roads in a vehicle provided by international engineering solutions company Actavo, which is headquartered in Dublin.

Ronnie, Northern Ireland’s ambassador for Haven, will stop off at a number of civic receptions and public events along the route, with companies and individuals being encouraged to organise their own fundraising events to coincide.

Involved with Haven for a number of years, Ronnie said he was “very moved” by the plight of the people left devastated by previous natural disasters.

 “It is an honour to get behind the wheel again to tour Ireland’s highways and byways for such a good cause. I hope to raise much-needed funds and increase awareness of the immense difficulties that continue to face the Haitian people, six months after Hurricane Matthew.

“I’m asking the people of Ireland to get behind the rally so that, together, we can help this recovery reach those who need it most. Every pound raised will help someone who has been left with nothing,” he said.

Leslie Buckley, Founder and Chairman of Haven, added: “After finding many of the homes, farms and schools destroyed, and having faced the threat of cholera and hunger, now, the people of Haiti are working to rebuild their lives. I would like to thank Ronnie for driving this unique initiative, which will reach far in supporting recovery in Haiti.” 

For schedule information or to donate visit https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/rally-for-haiti, Haven’s website, call +353 1 681 5442 or email info@havenpartnership.com