'Gentleman’s Drive' in memory of Justin

By Brendan Murphy

510,000 men die from suicide globally each year.

That’s one every minute. Just think about that for a moment. The causes of suicide are complex, there is no single reason why men take their own lives, but we do know that by improving overall mental health we can reduce the risk of suicide.

Prostate Cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Movember is the largest funder of prostate cancer programmes in the world. One of the most worrying aspects of the disease is that most prostate cancers develop without men experiencing any symptoms in the early stages.

The Nenagh Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive will take place on Sunday, September 27. The event, which is hosted by the Nenagh Classic Car Club, is a fundraising and awareness event in aid of Men’s Mental Health and Prostate Cancer research through the charity Movember. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive takes place in over 50 countries, which includes almost 600 venues. The Nenagh Drive is gaining more and more momentum with more drivers taking part each year as we try and raise more and more awareness around Men’s Mental Health and Prostate Cancer.

The event was introduced to the Nenagh Classic Car Club by club member Samuel McKeever. Samuel is the main organiser for this annual Club event. This year’s drive is especially poignant as the drive has been dedicated to the late Justin Furnell, who sadly passed away recently after a long bout with pancreatic cancer, after beating prostate cancer. Justin took part in the very first Nenagh Drive in 2023 with his beautiful Jensen CV8. We will all be thinking of Justin on September 27 as we continue the drive in his memory.

A total of €2,200 has been raised this year so far through donations via the Nenagh Classic Car Club’s Gentleman’s Drive link: gentlemansdrive.com/nenagh-classic-car-club

All proceeds from the event go directly to Men’s Mental Health and Prostate Cancer Research through the charity Movember.

The drive will leave Portumna Castle Harbour at 3pm on Sunday afternoon and will take a scenic route across the midlands and finish up at the Green Bar, Borrisokane, at approx 4.30pm. The cars will be on display at The Green Bar, Borrisokane, afterwards where people will get an opportunity to take some photos of the cars if they wish.