There was a carnival atmosphere at the Landmark Hotel when three local charities took delivery of a new minibus.
Kean’s Children’s Fund, Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia (TCCL) and Ward 29 of Ninewells will share the 17-seater vehicle just months after a £21,000 appeal for funds was launched.
Backed by local businesses, along with generous donations from the public, it has taken just six months for the three charities to get their hands on the keys of the minibus, a vehicle that will play a massive part in assisting people suffering from serious illness.
Charlie Kean, the founder of Kean’s Children’s Fund and Dundee’s current Citizen of the Year, said the bus will be a massive asset.
”This is going to make a huge difference to what we do. We will use the bus to take children to the zoo, to the cinema and even to hospital appointments,” he said.
”Before we were helping up to 300 families but with this we can help as many as 2,000-3,000.
”This bus was bought by the people of Dundee and it will now be used for the people of Dundee.”
Mr Kean started his fundraising efforts for the bus in February, collecting £10,000 in just two months.
However, after local businesses, including the Landmark Hotel, DC Thomson and Cineworld got involved, the £21,000 target was quickly reached, culminating in Monday’s delivery.
The vehicle will be used to transport sick children and adults on day trips to the cinema, Edinburgh zoo, football matches and other organised day trips across Scotland.
Bob Duncan, Dundee’s lord provost, was among those gathered as the bus was unveiled and he hailed Mr Kean and his charity work.
He said: “Charlie does great work and this is such a fantastic thing for these children. It shows what can be done when people show their willingness to support charity.”