Page 11
Call Sign October 2011
Since the first trip in 1994, around 3,500 sick
Children's Magical
children have enjoyed the WCHCD annual
Children's Magical Taxi Tour and together
with police from both sides of the Channel,
the convoy isn't just an unusual sight, it actu-
ally sends a feeling of warmth to anyone wit-
Taxi Tour 2011
nessing it and that applies to those motorists
who under normal circumstances would hoot
in annoyance. But instead, they watch in
admiration and hoot to show how delighted
they are to see the unusual sight of smiling
kids in London taxis!
Off to Disneyland Paris we go!
This year's trip to Disneyland Paris saw
around 100 taxis and several hundred chil-
"S'cuse me Goofy, can I
dren, all suffering from chronic and life-threat-
have your autograph
ening illnesses, leaving Canary Wharf for their
please!"
weekend at Disneyland Paris early on 23
September together with the usual accompa-
by English and French
niments of the AA and London Ambulance
police, ambulance crews,
NHS Trust vehicles and medical back up doc-
the AA and a tuck wagon,
tors and nurses, including specialist paediatric
the three day trip undoubt-
doctors and nurses from the hospitals where
edly brought much happi-
the children receive their treatment. Of course,
ness to the lives of those
the weekend would have to be in Dover with-
youngsters who are under-
out the annual generosity of P&O Ferries who
going various treatments
take the convoy over to La belle France. M&O
and therapies.
providing the children with spending money
This year's trip was the
undoubtedly helps as well! In addition to all
18th time the Magical Taxi
that, there was also a new Master in Eddie
Tour has taken place. Even
in the trip.
Crossley, with Jim Rainbird (T25) seeing
the drivers who have made all of these trips
The ferry crossings are donated by P&O, the
his tenure ending the previous month.
find the journey a rewarding experience
packed lunches by The Marriott Hotel West
The trip is all the more remarkable because
thanks to seeing the smiles on the faces of the
India Quay, with the sponsors names all
the funding is raised by the volunteer group of
children and the grownups too!
emblazoned on the sides of the taxis making
committee members who organise the event
You can learn more about the Magical
the trip.
each year and the taxi drivers who all give
Taxi Tour at www.magicaltaxitour.com
After being collected and taken to Canary
their time freely. At a time when things are
where you will find details of previous
Wharf, the children and their carers enjoyed
tough out there financially, the charity was
trips and also how you can help by mak-
the usual Big Breakfast send-off by The Right
once again touched by the number of drivers
ing a donation to help fund next year's
Honorable Alderman Michael Bear. Escorted
who willingly donated their time to take part
outing.
