Community rallies behind local hero to raise funds after garage destroyed in blaze

A Tipperary community has rallied together to raise funds for a charitable local man whose workshop was destroyed in a fire.

A few weeks ago while on holiday Jack Leonard got the shock of his life, as he received a call to say the garage at the end of their house was on fire.

Although Jack and his wife rushed home on the next flight, they returned to find their garage burnt to the ground. Jack lost his work van, vintage vehicles, bikes, all his tools, treasured family items and so much memorabilia that “can never be replaced” due to the blaze.

Now, the community has banded together to help gather funds for Jack, who is well known in the community for his own fundraising efforts, and his family to help replace some of the things they lost during the blaze.

“A few weeks ago Jack and his wife Anne were away on a winter vacation in the sun when they got a phone call saying that the garage at the rear of the dwelling house was on fire,” Sports Editor for Tipp Mid West Radio and family friend of the Leonards, Stevie O’Donnell told the Irish Mirror.

Jack Leonard with his motorbike

“Immediately Jack and Anne booked the next flight home only to find the entire garage burned to the ground.

“No words could describe how the Leonards felt when they saw the damage, there was so much lost in the fire including personal items and memorabilia of importance and significance to the family and as Jack described it was sickening to see that it’s all gone now. It will never be the same.

“Family pictures of both families from years gone by especially Jack’s parents and grandparents all destroyed in the blaze.

“Jack has put so much time, effort and energy into the work he put into making this workshop/garage something special, it was decked out in shelves and everything was placed in position so that it was easy to identify where such an item was, it was his passion but it was also his pride and joy.

“Hopefully, through the GoFundMe page, we will be able to get him a replacement van to get him back on the road again and rebuild his garage.”

Community rallies behind local man to raise funds after garage destroyed in fire

Jack was also well known for helping to raise money, especially South Tipperary Hospice. As chairman of Tipperary Vintage Rally, Jack helped raise over €270,000 for the hospice, with Stevie saying now it is people’s chance to help him.

“Tipperary Vintage Rally was set up in 2008 by three wise men, Steve Thornton, Eddie Spencer and Jack Leonard,” Stevie continued.

“They set it up to specifically raise funds for South Tipperary Hospice as all three had been affected by cancer either battling cancer themselves or family members who had been diagnosed with cancer.

“Jack suffered cancer himself a number of years ago and he fought the dreadful disease and he made a full recovery. Since the foundation of Tipp Vintage Rally to date, over €270.000 has been raised from South Tipperary Hospice.”

Currently, the GoFundMe has raised €6,410 raised of the €10,000 goal. You can donate here.

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