On Tour · Oct 2026 – Oct 2027

Colum's Reindeer World Tour 2026–27

While Colum was undergoing Cancer Treatment, he made wooden Reindeers which he sold to raise money for local cancer charities. Thinking of others while facing his own battle. To mark his 10th anniversary we have created Reindeer Plaques to continue his legacy. We hope they will travel far and wide creating fun and raising awareness and much needed funds for our chosen Cancer Charities. Made by hand, Carried by Many, One Very Special Legacy.

Please join us in Celebrating Colums Life and supporting Friends of the Cancer Centre, Cancer Fund for Children and The Johnston Cancer Research Centre, Queens.

Donate to the charities
Colum McNally smiling, wearing a dark zip-up jacket, outside a brick building.
Colum McNally
One of the large brushed-metal tour plaques: Colum's Reindeer World Tour 2026–27, in memory of Colum McNally, with a reindeer head cut out and the logos of Friends of the Cancer Centre, Cancer Fund for Children and Queen's University Belfast Foundation.
A brushed-metal plaque with a red reindeer head and the words Colum's Reindeer World Tour 2026–27.

The Film · 3 minutes

A Legacy of Hope

Joan and Mark McNally share Colum's story, the reindeer tour and the scholarship at Queen's that carries his name.

Film by Lyndon Brown

How it works

Project Reindeer

A world journey of fundraising, remembrance and awareness

How people take part

  1. Host or join an event Gather your community for a cause that matters.
  2. Take a photo through a plaque Capture the moment where you are.
  3. Share the story and raise funds Post, tell your story and encourage donations.
  4. Pass it on to the next place Send your plaque on so the journey continues.

Fundraising events

  • Hikers holding a plaque up against snowy mountains Charity hike Take it to the peaks. Every step supports hope.
  • Walkers in a community walk with a plaque held up Community walk Walk together. Stronger together for cancer care.
  • A tea party table with cakes and a plaque held up Tea party Raise funds over tea and good conversation with great company.
  • A plaque held up on a beach walk by the sea Beach walk From coast to coast, carry Colum's memory with you.
  • Students at a university event with a plaque University event Inspire the next generation to make a difference.
  • Colleagues at a workplace fundraiser with a plaque and a donation tin Workplace fundraiser Small acts at work, big impact together. Every donation counts.

The journey continues

  1. 01 Ireland It started here.
  2. 02 Chicago Chicago Marathon
  3. 03 Vietnam Vietnam Mountains
  4. 04 Your town? Host it next.

Plaques travel the world, connecting places and people in support of cancer care. Wherever they go, they carry Colum’s memory and a message of hope.

What it achieves

  • Raises funds All donations support Friends of the Cancer Centre, Cancer Fund for Children and the Johnston Cancer Research Centre at Queen’s.
  • Builds awareness Every photo and story shines a light on cancer and the impact we can make.
  • Connects communities Brings people together across towns, countries and cultures.
  • Keeps Colum’s memory moving forward Honouring his life by creating lasting change and hope.

Take it. Share it. Pass it on.

Many places. Shared impact.

Host it next Request a plaque
Tour length 12 months
On Tour Oct 2026 – Oct 2027
Request a plaque

World Tour

The journey so far

  • A runner in a blue Dublin Marathon 2026 top holds up an Irish Life Dublin Marathon finisher's medal beside a silver Colum's Reindeer World Tour 2026–27 plaque with a red reindeer head.

    Completed

    Dublin Marathon

    Where
    Dublin, Ireland
    When
    25 October 2026
    Activity
    Marathon

    A reindeer plaque ran the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, finishing in 3 hours 34 minutes with a bit of help from the reindeer.

  • A smiling woman holds up a Colum's Reindeer World Tour 2026–27 plaque beside Colum's brother Kieran, next to a red Vietnamese flag, with misty limestone mountains and a green valley behind them.

    Completed

    Vietnam Mountains

    Where
    Vietnam
    When
    24 October 2026

    One of the reindeer plaques has made its way to Vietnam, brought by Colum's brother Kieran and pictured high above the Vietnamese countryside.

  • A runner holds up a silver Colum's Reindeer World Tour 2026–27 plaque with a red reindeer head, beside their 2026 Chicago Marathon finisher's medal.

    Completed

    Chicago Marathon

    Where
    Chicago, USA
    When
    11 October 2026
    Activity
    Marathon

    A reindeer plaque ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and crossed the finish line alongside the 2026 finisher's medal.

A wooden reindeer with a red nose and a knitted scarf, its branch antlers hung with Christmas baubles and lights, on display outside a café on a paved town square.

From the archive · Details to follow

Our Story

Colum's Story

In 2015, at eighteen and a pupil at St Colman's College in Newry, Colum McNally was named UK Young Engineer of the Year, beating more than 2,000 other entrants at The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham.

His winning Agri-Hammer was a safe, low-cost hydraulic machine that did the work of both a log splitter and a fence builder, two jobs that usually need two dangerous machines.

Colum went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast, where he completed his first year. Following his passing in October 2016, the Colum McNally Scholarship was established in 2017 to honour his memory and preserve his legacy.

“I’ve been involved in engineering from a young age on the farm, just building bits and pieces as we needed them, and it’s amazing to think it’s taken me this far.”

Colum, quoted by Newry.ie, 2015

Read Colum's story

Contact

Get in touch

Want a reindeer plaque to visit your town, club, school or workplace? Tell us where you are and roughly when. Plaques are lent free of charge; they aren't for sale.

I'd like to

Your details only go to the campaign team, and only to reply to you.