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TRIP: Ana Sophia with mum Cleonilve

LITTLE ANA Sophia Cruz was among 200 lucky children who went on a three-day trip to Disneyland Paris last week.

Little Anna and her mum Cleonilve, from Manor Park, east London, took part in the Children’s Magical Taxi Tour, an annual event organised by the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers.

The charity aims to put a smile on the face of sick and terminally ill children by helping make their dreams come true.

Last week, 100 licensed London taxis collected children from their home or hospital before converging on Canary Wharf for a big breakfast send-off. The cabs then formed a massive three-mile convoy, which snaked its way to the English coast and then across the Channel.

To date 1,500 taxis have taken almost 3,000 children to Disneyland over the past 15 years. Some of the drivers have been coming every year since 1994, taking 9,000 unpaid miles of driving.

Ed Thompson, Director of Taxi and Private Hire at Transport for London’s Public Carriage Office (PCO) said: "We are delighted to support this great event which will hopefully bring a lot of joy to over 200 ill children.

“We have sponsored two taxis with PCO staff driving the children, their families and carers all the way to Paris. For some of these children it will have been their first time in a cab and their first time to go abroad."

Published: 28 October 2008
Issue: 1344

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