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Special Appeal
This year on 18th April 2004 Mr Carlos
Oliveira will run the London Marathon for the second time on behalf
of The Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers to raise money
for it's annual Magical Taxi Tour to Disneyland Paris.
Carlos ran the London Marathon last
year for the first time and finished in a very reasonable time for a
beginner. He said after finishing that he would never do it again as
it took so much out of him, so we were surprised to learn that he
has decided to put himself through the torture of running again.
Carlos is an avid supporter of The
Magical Taxi Tour and has personally taken part in the trip for a
number of years giving his time and the use of his Taxi for the
weekend completely without charge as do the other 100 or so drivers
that take part in this fantastic event.
The trip is one of London's most
unique charity events in which a convoy of licensed London taxi's
take over 200 children, suffering from a range of debilitating
illnesses and life threatening condition, on a three day trip of a
lifetime to the Magical World of Disneyland Resort Paris. This
Magical Taxi Tour has brought great moments of joy and happiness to
a lot of unfortunate children.
This amazing convoy can at times be
over 3 miles long when running 90+ taxi's, Metropolitan Police
Escorts, London Ambulance NHS Trust vehicles and AA breakdown
trucks.
The trip this year will take part from
1st-3rd October 2004 and will start as usual from Canary Wharf where
the children and helpers are treated to the "big breakfast" before
the convoy of more than 100 vehicles departs to catch the ferry at
Dover.
In the past this spectacular scene has
attracted a lot of media attention with numerous television
companies in England, France and around the World following our
trip.
Danielle's Story
In the last three years, half of which
was spent in hospital, Danielle underwent various treatments,
therapies and surgery.
Below is part of a letter received
from Danielle's mum, Pauline, who has given us permission to include
it in our appeals.
"It was then through the Royal
Marsden, that Danielle was invited to go on a trip to Disneyland
Paris that was organised by the Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers,
after all that Danielle had been through it was like a dream come
true. Danielle loved every minute of the trip, all of the people
that Danielle met thoroughly spoilt her and she was so full of
energy. The trip was like and adventure to Danielle and she forgot
all about her illness and treatment.
On the Saturday in Disneyland,
Danielle did not know what to do first, she just wanted to do and go
on everything, Danielle met all of her favourite Disney Characters
including Winnie the Pooh. Danielle felt as though she was the belle
of the ball that evening wearing the special dress that our driver
had so kindly bought her for the party.
When we returned home, Disneyland
and the trip was all that Danielle talked about for weeks, it was
the happiest that I had ever seen her, and will ever again.
Danielle sadly passed away
peacefully on Saturday 24th November 2001 at 11:15am. I will never
forget how happy Danielle was at Disneyland and that memory will
stay with me forever, as it did with Danielle. After all that
Danielle had been through those few days of happiness lasted a
lifetime and made up for all those years of sadness and pain that
she had gone through, it gave Danielle the opportunity to forget her
problems even if only for a short time. Thank you so much for
bringing a smile to a very often sad little face".
Pauline McIntyre
(Danielle's mum)
Carlos & the
Marathon
This appeal is for you to sponsor
Carlos to raise much needed funds for this years fantastic trip. You
can contact Carlos direct at
carlosoliveirauk@hotmail.com of you can contact us and we will
happily pass on your details to Carlos of accept your
sponsorship/donations and forward them:
Tel: 08700 802 902
Mobile: 07939 277922
e-mail:
denise@london-taxi.co.uk
Sponsorship for the
Trip
The company are always looking for
sponsors for this event and the sponsored taxi can carry door
advertisment's with your companies name/image. For details of
sponsorship opportunities please contact Mr Phil Davis on 020 8281
9320.
If you are unable to sponsor a Taxi
for this event we welcome any donation large or small, donations
should be made payable to CHCD Charitable Trust and crossed "Special
Events Account" and sent to:
CHCD Charitable Trust
Disneyland Organising Committee
PO Box 2113
Woodford Green
Essex IG7 6BP
The charitable trust is registered
with the Charities Commission Registered Charity Number: 1026395
Brochures
If anyone is interested in receiving
more information about this wonderful event then please e-mail your
details to
denise@london-taxi.co.uk including your mailing details and the
Subject Disney Brochure we will happily post one out to you.
We do hope that you can find it in
your hearts to either sponsor this event or Carlos in his efforts
with the London Marathon or just a donation however large or small.
Conclusion
I have personally taken part in this
event for the last few years and can assure you that your donations
and sponsorship is money well spent, to see the children's faces
when they walk into Disneyland is worth every penny and really does
bring a lump to one's throat and a tear to the eye.
Rgds
Jamie Owens
Editor
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