Help keep them on the road
Newmarket Day Centre Minibus Appea. Elvis McMinn, centre manager, with drivers Pat Dugdale, John Morris and Peter Malby and day centre clients.
The Journal has joined forces with the Newmarket Day Centre to launch an appeal to raise £35,000 to buy a new minibus.
Many senior citizens who use the centre’s services rely on its volunteer-driven minibuses to get them from their homes in the town and villages to the Fred Archer Way venue.
Now one of the buses, which is nearly 13 years old, needs replacing and the centre is hoping Journal readers will get the wheels in motion by supporting the appeal so a new nine-seater, specially adapted bus can be on the road as soon as possible.
“The minibuses are a very important part of life at the Newmarket Day Centre, they carry up to 80 people a week over the five days the centre is open,” said general manager Elvis McMinn.
“Without the service lots of people would be left isolated and lonely and it is so important to their wellbeing for them to be able to come to the centre and socialise as well as being able to use the various services we have on offer here.
“We hopefully give our clients a great day out, a good fresh cooked meal and a memory of a good day to take home with them until they return. I hope Journal readers will support the appeal and help keep a smile on the faces of the older people in our community.”
Eighty-year-old Margaret Deary, of New Cheveley Road in Newmarket, uses the centre minibuses three times a week.
“It’s great,” she said. “I do not know what I would do without it, it’s wonderful. I could not afford a taxi to the centre and back so if there was no bus I would probably just be stuck at home and not see anybody.”
The appeal is also being supported by the Friends of Newmarket Day Centre, who work tirelessly to raise money to keep the centre and the valuable communuity services it provides.
l If you are organising a charity event and looking for a good cause to support, why not support our appeal. Contact the Journal newsdesk on 01638 564104 and we will be glad to help publicise events.
Caption: Elvis McMinn, right, with drivers, Pat Dugdale, John Morris amd Peter Malby and Day Centre clients all backing the minibus appeal. MNJP-06-03-13 MW 025.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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