Farmer and rural presenter Adam Henson, despite recently undergoing hip surgery, will join Royal Agricultural University (RAU) students in a fundraising Tractor Pull this week.

This is part of their annual ‘RAG Week' organised by the Royal Agricultural University’s Students’ Union (RAUSU), which raises money for three charities.

The Tractor Pull is a longstanding RAU tradition that involves a team of students hauling a large tractor from Cirencester town centre up the hill to the RAU campus.

Cotswold Journal: Last year's RAG Week Tractor Pull (Photo: RAU)Last year's RAG Week Tractor Pull (Photo: RAU) (Image: RAU)

This year the students will be raising money for Ripple Effect, a charity that helps farmers in Africa become financially self-sufficient and Willberry Wonderpony, a charity set up by 17-year-old Hannah Francis to fund research into bone cancer (who sadly died aged just 18).

RAG Week will also be supporting Adam Henson’s new project 'Getting Farmers Back on Track' that helps farmers with their mental health.

Adam Henson, owner of the Cotswold Farm Park in Guiting Power, said: “I think it will be really good fun to join the Tractor Pull although I have to admit I’m not looking forward to the long slog up Tetbury Hill to the RAU campus!

“I am delighted that the RAUSU has chosen to support my new venture in RAG Week and the money raised will definitely help us to get the project off the ground and start to help the farmers who need our support.

“Initially we aim to create a professionally produced series of free podcasts for farmers to help with wellbeing as well as to offer guidance and support from medical experts, and testimonials from farmers, to help improve awareness around mental health and reduce suicide in the agricultural sector.”

The Tractor Pull will begin at Cirencester Police Station at 11am this Friday, February 10.

The route will then take them through the Market Place, along Castle Street and Sheep Street, and up to the mini roundabout by Waitrose before joining the dual carriageway up Tetbury Hill to the RAU’s Stroud Road entrance.

Miles Toulson-Clarke, a spokesperson from Willberry Wonderpony, said: “RAUSU’s support allows us to continue Hannah’s mission of #kickingcancersbutt and we’re so grateful to be a part of the RAUSU’s RAG week, as we know Hannah would be.”

Rebecca Parford, Head of Public Fundraising at Ripple Effect, said: “We’re so delighted that RAU students chose to stand with families in rural Africa by supporting Ripple Effect. The RAG team will be doing a powerful job in helping to spread the word about our important long-term development work with farmers as they fight the hunger and climate crisis.”

James Legge, RAUSU RAG Week chairman, said: “The whole RAG team has put a lot of work into organising the events for this week and making sure not only that everything runs smoothly and is fun for the students but, importantly, that we are successful in raising as much as we can for our three chosen charities."

He added: “The Tractor Pull is the last public fundraising event of this year’s RAG Week. As always, we will try our best not to cause any traffic delays or disruption and we hope that the people of Cirencester will come out to cheer us on and support our chosen charities.”

Students will be alongside the Tractor Pull with donation buckets.

To support other RAG Week activities such as a clay pigeon shoot and a car wash on campus click here.