Now in its fifth year, The Fisher Foundation has announced the Rally Safety Awards to organisations focussed on enhancing safety in the sport of rallying in Ireland. Grants totalling £11,000 have been awarded to five organisations .

The Awards were confirmed by Ernie Fisher, Chairman of the Fisher Foundation, 'On behalf of everyone involved in the Foundations work, I am delighted to announce we have made five awards to organisations based in Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Galway and Kerry. Each of the successful recipients are making a very important contribution to rally safety and rally safety issues, and these awards will assist them in this work'. 'The Trustees are delighted with the interest in the awards, and had difficult decisions to make, in light of the overall demand. The awards include assisting the Donegal Motor Club and the Commane Rally Rescue purchase new equipment, assistance to the Galway Bay Rally Rescue Unit towards purchasing a new vehicle, a training grant to the Motorsport Marshalling Partnership, based in Cookstown and a contribution towards the Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Initiative which Magherafelt and District Motor Club is taking a lead role on.

The Awards are greatly appreciated as outlined by Tommy Commane from the Commane Rally Rescue Unit.

"Commane Rally Rescue is honoured to be recognised by the good work of the Fisher Foundation. The generous contribution to the Unit will enable the team to proceed with their planned upgrade of equipment for the 2007 season''. Tommy who directs the rescue unit from his Tralee base and attends up to 40 events each year is particularly pleased with the recognition due to its attachment to the Fisher Family.

"The donation that is deeply appreciated. This funding will play an important part in the ongoing upgrade of the extraction equipment carried. Commane Rally Rescue is constantly striving to employ the most modern methods and equipment in order to improve the safety of Irish Motorsport. This award will help to keep the unit's equipment to a very high standard," explained Tommy.

Another award recipient, Plunkett Boyle on behalf of the Motorsport Marshalling Partnership outlined the importance of the funding ''It will make a huge difference to what we are trying to do in increasing safety in rallying!''

The Foundation was particularly pleased to be in a position to support the Rally Specialist Medical Assistance Initiative with Magherafelt and District Motor Club ''The money is very important, equally importantly it adds credibility to what we are trying to do to assist people involved in motor sport accidents''