The Daisy Bus is being reborn as the Daisy Ring Bus thanks to a new community initiative.
When Wessex Cancer Support unexpectedly withdrew the Daisy Bus service on 20th August – giving less than three weeks’ notice – it left Island cancer patients facing daunting, costly journeys to Southampton General Hospital. The bus had provided a vital link from the Red Jet terminal, shielding immune-compromised passengers from the risks of public transport.
In response, the community sprang into action. A rapid fund-raising campaign raised over £12,000, allowing a temporary mini-bus taxi service to continue the lifeline – though at a cost of more than £1,000 a week.
Now, a new chapter begins. A Community Interest Company (CIC) has been formed to secure the future of the service, with plans to purchase and operate its own vehicle. The new initiative will be called the Daisy Ring Bus – the daisy symbolising hope and renewal, and the ring representing continuity, connection, and the circle of care surrounding every patient.
Chairman, Michele Newton, said:
“The initial response was phenomenal. Patients are so grateful for the support of the community – it’s been truly humbling. You may have thought we’d gone quiet, but we’ve been working hard behind the scenes and planning for the future. More plans will be announced over the next few weeks, with details of the fund-raising target and how we plan to keep the wheels of compassion turning.”
The directors of the new CIC have pledged to do all they can to ensure the service continues into the future. Joining Michele, who owns the Four Seasons Cookery Academy and is a co-director of Gurnard Press Bistro, are Sophia Brading – founder of digital marketing agency Colloco Marketing, Chris Cornford – owner of PrimeDrive Vehicle Rentals, Shalfleet Garage and a director of the IW Observer, Josh Harris – owner of several businesses including Wight Coaches, and Stephen Webster – a Chartered Accountant of AIMS Accountants for Business.
Michele’s motto is “We can do this” – and they all believe that with the support of the IW community they can.
The first organised fund-raising event for the cause is one of Tracy Asher and Pete Skinner’s popular quiz nights.
“We run quizzes for Island charities and causes, with all money raised staying local,” said Tracy. “We host a live quiz and also email it to those who can’t attend, so everyone can take part and donate.”
Their next quiz, now dedicated to the Daisy Bus campaign, will be held on Friday 10th October at Newclose Cricket Club, Newport. Doors open at 19:00 for a 19:30 start. Teams, of up to 4 people, MUST book in advance. To do so, contact [email protected].
Anybody who would like to support the campaign can make a donation via justgiving.com/crowdfunding/savethedaisybus or contact the chairman, Michele Newton, at [email protected].
If all medical procedures etc were carried out at
St Mary’s on the island, patients and families
would not need to travel to mainland hospitals.
This service should be supplied and funded by the
IW NHS
Islanders are no different to persons living on the
mainland, they too pay their taxes.
This is one of the problems with the Island being lumped in with Hants for some purposes and there are lessons to learn from it. Perhaps people need to think twice about whether they want our local government to be on that basis?
If the island was not lumped in with Hants and persons
had to receive treatment at St Mary’s in Newport, many persons would not survive.
Look at all the serious accidents and injuries etc
on the island, when the persons are flown to the
mainland for treatment their chance of surviving is
much better than what would happen if they were taken
direct to Newport.
A lot needs to be done to bring St Mary’s into the 21st
Century.
Why do we pay the same taxes as everyone else but are fobbed off with an inferior version of the NHS? We should be treated on the island but instead we pay money but are given a poorer service.
Neither the Tories nor Labour have done anything for us. I might as well vote for Reform next election as it must be their turn to get their snouts in the trough of our taxes while we’re forced to take expensive ferry trips and if necessary stay in hotels.
You would think that facing such a problem we would be first in line for local cancer treatment but we’re last in line. If mainland people had to travel over here for treatment there would soon be an outcry.
Reform won’t do anything, by the time they get in
power they will be the old tory party under another
name – Reform
Have you seen the amount of ex Tories who are
defecting to Reform.
I personally believe the same so called elite persons
who control our Government have created the Reform
party to keep control.
This is really great and so happy there is a solution for people who would otherwise face more hardship. However the inaccurate sensationalist reporting is disappointing. Wessex Cancer Support which is a charity which continues to support hundreds of people on the Isle of Wight. They supplied the minibus. All costs of running it were met by UHS with funding from States of Jersey. States of Jersey changed their funding so UHS could no longer continue to fund the costs. So the bus couldn’t continue. Wessex did not withdraw without consulting with UHS and others. Wessex Cancer Support continues to support people on the Island. I agree that Isle of Wight NHS should be funding this if they can’t offer treatment on the Island