Daisy Ring Bus CIC has marked its first anniversary with a major community celebration at Northwood House in Cowes – raising an incredible £3,250 through the anniversary event and associated donations.
Held on Sunday 23rd August, the celebration brought together drivers, volunteers, supporters, local organisations, businesses and members of the Island community to recognise everything that has been achieved during Daisy Ring Bus’s first year.
Daisy Ring Bus provides accessible, community-run transport for Isle of Wight patients travelling to Southampton and Portsmouth hospitals for cancer treatment.
The man behind the wheels
Always at the heart of Daisy Ring Bus is Rex Goldsmith, whose dream it was to bring people together for a first anniversary celebration.
At the age of 80, Rex continues to devote enormous time and energy to Daisy Ring Bus. He works tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure drivers are where they need to be, that they are properly supported and trained, and that new volunteer drivers are recruited to help keep the service moving.
His commitment remains rooted in one simple thing – his love for Daisy Ring Bus and his determination to make sure Islanders travelling for cancer treatment have the support they need.
Bands, brass and a magician
The first anniversary party was therefore especially significant, fulfilling Rex’s dream of seeing the Daisy Ring Bus community come together to celebrate how far the service had come in its first year.
The anniversary event was filled with entertainment, fundraising and community spirit, with performances from FaT Samba, Wight Diamonds, IOW Pipes and Drums, Vectis Brass Band and magician Greg Chapman, alongside appearances and support from numerous Island organisations, community groups and volunteers.
Where the money came from
One of the biggest successes of the day was the anniversary raffle, which raised an extraordinary £1,960.
The raffle was the culmination of weeks of work by volunteers, who approached local businesses, collected prizes, sold tickets and managed the operation throughout the anniversary event.
Daisy Ring Bus was also presented with a generous £400 donation from Sandown Bay Over 50s Club, while the Yarbrough Chapter donated £200 to support the service.
£18,500 from a Ryde shop counter
The anniversary celebrations also provided an opportunity to recognise the phenomenal ongoing support of Phoenix Pre-Loved Store, which had raised an extraordinary £18,500 for Daisy Ring Bus through the sale of pre-loved clothing and goods.
During the anniversary reception, guests heard a presentation reflecting on Daisy Ring Bus’s first year before Anna Newton performed the organisation’s theme tune, Lean on Me, accompanied by Musical Director Tom Barker.
“Every hour given helps”
Michele Le Quesne Newton, Chair of Daisy Ring Bus CIC, said,
“Our first anniversary gave us an opportunity not only to celebrate what Daisy Ring Bus has achieved, but to thank the incredible people who have made it possible.
“The support we receive from our volunteers, drivers, local businesses, organisations and the wider Island community continues to amaze us. Every donation, every fundraiser and every hour given helps us continue providing a service that makes a genuine difference to people’s lives.
“This celebration was something Rex had dreamed of from the beginning, so seeing so many people come together at Northwood House made the day particularly special.
“We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us during our first year, and we are excited about what comes next.”
Three months to pull it together
The anniversary event itself was organised in just three months, alongside the team’s full-time jobs and everyday commitments.
Daisy Ring Bus has paid particular tribute to Martin Nickless, whose experience, guidance and many hours of behind-the-scenes organisation helped bring the event together and who worked throughout the day to ensure everything ran smoothly.
Thanks have also been extended to the Northwood House team, performers, stallholders, local businesses, raffle prize donors, catering and parking volunteers, event support teams and the many people who gave their time to make the celebration possible.
The first anniversary marks an important milestone for an organisation which has grown through community support, determination and a shared belief that Islanders undergoing cancer treatment should have access to reliable and supportive transport when travelling to the mainland.
Year two
As Daisy Ring Bus enters its second year, the team hopes to reach more people, build further community partnerships and continue developing the service.
Michele added,
“What Daisy Ring Bus has achieved in its first year simply would not have been possible without the people who have stood behind us.
“This anniversary was a celebration of them as much as it was of Daisy. Now we are looking forward to year two and continuing to keep Daisy moving for the people who need us.”
News shared by Sophia on behalf of Daisy Bus CIC. Ed
