CHARITY...


YEOVIL TAXI DRIVER BACK ON ROAD THANKS TO CHARITY


A Yeovil taxi driver who was forced out of busi- ness for more than a year because of red tape has thanked the charity that got him back on the road. Type two diabetic Ron Lock was told to hand in his taxi driver’s licence in January 2007 after failing a medical test required by South Somerset District Council.


The decision put the self-employed driver, now 60, out of busi- ness and forced him to re-mortgage his house. Following a campaign by charity Diabetes UK, Mr Lock, of Legion Road, got his taxi dri- ver’s licence back in March 2008.


He is now building his business back up and has organised a disco at the Labour Club in Central Road to raise funds for the charity. The district council


HOLIDAY OF LIFETIME FOR YOUNG PATIENTS


Picture courtesy of the Western Gazette


said it was following DfT guidelines when it introduced tougher medical standards for insulin-dependent driv- ers. Taxi drivers who pass the qualifying condi- tions and medical tests to drive a class C1 light goods vehicle and meet six further condi- tions are now able to get a licence.


Drivers must have an examination every 12 months, check their blood glucose levels at least twice daily and sign an undertaking to


report any changes in their condition imme- diately to the council. Zoe Steer, Diabetes UK south west fundraising manager said: “Ron’s fundrais- ing will greatly help to raise much needed funds as well as awareness so we would like to thank him for his support.” The disco was held on Friday, October 22 and featured music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Guests were invited to wear fancy dress from those decades.


PAISLEY CABBIES HOLD CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH


Generous taxi drivers went the extra mile to raise cash for two charities but they refused to play ‘fare’ on the football field. Almost 40 Paisley cab- bies staged their second annual bounce game and, as well as netting £3,200 for worthy causes, there were some old scores to settle. Despite being the best of buddies in the taxi ranks of Renfrewshire, the old pals act was nowhere to be seen on the pitch at Seedhill, in Paisley, as the Leg- ends team managed to gain revenge on their rivals from the Allstars.


In last year’s match, the Allstars hammered their opponents 6-1 but it was the Legends who were smiling this time around as they


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recorded a 7-4 victory. Allstars player Brian McMillan told the Pais- ley Daily Express: “It was once again a very successful day and we also had a race night later on which was well supported, so we managed to smash our funding target of £2,000.


“In total, we raised £3,200 and this was split between ACCORD Hospice in Paisley and St Vin- cent’s Hospice in Johnstone.” Fellow Allstar player Jason Tannahill added: “Even though we’re all taxi drivers and know each other well, it was a keenly- contested match last year and this year was no different.


“No-one wanted to lose the game but, in the end, the most


important thing is that we managed to raise lots of money for ACCORD and St Vin- cent’s. “We decided to split the cash between the hospices this year after giving the money raised from last year’s game to the Special Care Baby Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hos- pital in Paisley.”


Brian, 39, and Jason, 44, are keen to thank all the sponsors who helped to make the race night a massive success and everyone who donated cash to their appeal.


Jason added: “It was a great effort from every- one involved and a fantastic amount was raised for two great causes.


“Now we’re looking forward to doing it all again next year.”


Organiser Mumtaz Fareed, front centre, with some of the footballers who took part in the fundraising contest


Photo courtesy of the Oxford Mail/John Lewis PHTM NOVEMBER 2010


More than a dozen sick children from Enfield were treated to a magical trip to Dis- neyland Paris recently. The Chase Farm Hospi- tal patients joined other youngsters from Lon- don who were whisked off in black cabs for the 17th annual three-day Magical Taxi Tour. As reported in last month’s PHTM, the


event was organised by The Company of Hackney Carriage Driv- ers’ charity which was set up in 1994 to give sick children a break from their world of treatment and therapy. Nikki Evans, head of children’s nursing at Chase Farm Hospital, told the Enfield Inde- pendent: “It’s a wonderful opportunity


for children and their families with serious health heeds to have a holiday.


“The children have always had a terrific time, as have the staff and families. Everyone works really well together to make it happen, including the police and black cab drivers as well as our own staff.”


OXFORD TOURNAMENT NETS £3,500 FOR PAKISTAN


Taxi driver Zubair Shafique loves scor- ing goals - and gets an even bigger kick when football is helping a good cause.


Mr Shafique, 25, of Headington, near Oxford was one of 160 people who took part in a football tourna- ment to raise funds for victims of the Pakistan floods.


An estimated 1,600 people died and up to 20 million others were affected by severe monsoon rains at the beginning of August. Twenty six-a-side teams competed at Kidlington and Gos-


ford Sports Centre to raise an estimated £3,500.


Mr Shafique told the Oxford Mail: “I love playing football and it’s great to think that we can help the flood victims by playing the game.”


Mumtaz Fareed, 42, from Oxford, who helped to organise the fundraising fixture, said East Oxford youngsters had urged him to stage an event they could take part in. He added: “The play- ers mainly come from East Oxford and some of them have relatives in Pakistan.


“Each team paid £80 to take part and we also sold food and took donations. This was a day of unity for the community and it was a very good way of help- ing the flood victims, who are still facing ter- rible difficulties.” Mr Fareed said the money raised would be divided between the UK Disasters Emer- gency Committee and the Edhi Foundation, a Pakistani relief organi- sation.


The tournament, was won by Los Blancos, who defeated a Thames Valley Police team 4-0 in the final.


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