AYR CABBIES TAKE CHILDREN ON UNFORGETTABLE TRIP TO BLAIR DRUMMOND SAFARI PARK

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, Ayr taxi drivers treated children and young carers from Whiteleys Retreat to a magical day at Blair Drummond Safari Park.

Inspired by the well-known Glasgow Taxi Outing, Rodney Harris of Ayr Premier Taxis and owner of the Venga Party Taxi spearheaded the initiative, joined by John Kelly (owner of Ayr Premier Taxis), Richard Colville (chairman of the local Taxi Owners Association), and Thomas Lindores (owner of A to B Taxis).

The Ayr Taxi Day Out team, along with the support of local businesses and the community, raised a fantastic £2,750 in just 13 weeks. All additional funds raised will go directly to Whiteleys Retreat, a charity offering respite breaks and support to families across Scotland dealing with childhood illnesses.

On 8 December, 18 taxis, complete with a police escort, departed Riverside Arena in Ayr at 10am, carrying 39 excited children and 22 adults.

Rodney Harris, brimming with pride, commented, "We exceeded expectations, raising £2,750 with more donations coming in! Seeing the taxis leave the car park and the well-wishers was truly special. Pulling this off in 13 weeks is incredible."

John Kelly, a veteran in the taxi trade since 1993, echoed the sentiment. "The highlight? Seeing so many happy children! The weather was perfect, and a big thank you to Police Scotland for the escort. We arrived at Blair Drummond at 11:30 am and the children spent a magical 3 hours exploring the park."

John expressed his gratitude to everyone involved. "I want to thank all the individuals, businesses, and especially the drivers who volunteered their time to make this day special. Our goal is to raise £3,000 for Whiteleys Retreat by the time we close our GoFundMe page next week."

Maxine Allan, Chief Executive and Founder of Whiteleys Retreat, was touched by the gesture. "Seeing the taxi convoy bringing the children together was incredibly emotional. They were buzzing with excitement! This could become an annual event, exploring different destinations in the future."

Maxine concluded by expressing her deepest gratitude. "A huge thank you to the Ayr Taxi drivers for their incredible kindness and generosity. We are also grateful to the local businesses who supported this fantastic day out."

To contribute to the Ayr Taxi Day Out fundraising efforts, visit: https://shorturl.at/YIQdc

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