Pupils treated to special seaside Troon trip by Glasgow taxi drivers 
Seaside trip: Drivers all leave from Kelvin Way and take the children to Troon
It is a day that sees around 150 taxi drivers take time off from the usual hustle and bustle to help give Glasgow school children a memorable day out.
Cabbies pull on their fancy dress costumes and decorate their black taxis in multi-coloured balloons to take special educational needs children to the seaside in Troon.
Wednesday marks 68 years of the event and around 400 school children will be going along as well as their parents and carers.
The annual Glasgow Taxi Outing Fund event begins at Kelvin Way and a procession of taxis will make their way through the city centre before heading to the Ayrshire seaside town.
Jim McNulty, 48, from Croftfoot, is one of the taxi drivers giving up a day’s pay to be a chauffeur to the pupils.
He has being taking part in the event for eight years, the same amount of time that he has been a taxi driver, and loves being able to do something for children in the city.
He said: "I think it’s the fact that I love kids and I love to see them get a nice day out.
"The loss of money for me isn’t an issue I just love to see the smile on their faces.
"Lot’s of the guys all dress up and some of them make their own costume. It also takes hundreds of balloons to cover the taxis so it is not just the one day that is given up.
"Guys are out the night before."
Jim has dressed up as Bananaman for the past few years but he says this year he will be going as a clown this year.
He said: "I can’t wait and I think we have got the weather which makes a huge difference.
"The best part of the day is at Kelvin Way when all of the taxis drive away together, the first time I done that I had to stop myself from crying.
"The fact that these kids are so excited to be sitting in a cab and going through the city, but it’s a good emotion."
2012 trip to Troon 2012 trip to Troon
Lord Provost Sadie Docherty will be joining the Glasgow Taxi Outing fund chair Jo Reid as they head to Troon.
And crowds are expected to line the streets in both Glasgow and Troon to wave the kids off and welcome them.
Jo said: "I have been involved in this since my daughter was three and she is now nearly 42. I used to work in the taxi office and then I began to help out.
"It’s a fabulous worthwhile cause. Every year I love seeing the look on the kids’ faces.
"There is always one kid that touches you every year.
"There is never an unhappy face among these kids and it’s very humbling."
There are children from all over the city going on the trip and it will begin, as always, with the release of 1000 charity balloons.
In Troon there will be a variety of activities to keep the children entertained including a bouncy castle, ski slopes and horses.
Jo added: "This is the 68th year and it began with just four taxi drivers.
"Now we bring the traffic to a standstill."
Glasgow Taxis Ltd vice chairman Stephen Flynn said: "We are immensely proud of the part our drivers play in bringing so much joy to children from across Glasgow.
"The annual outing truly is an institution and also quite often a humbling experience.
"Glaswegians are known for being a tough bunch but it doesn’t take long at this event to have a lump in your throat and more than a few drivers will shed a tear or two of happiness.
"But it’s all about the kids and we hope the day out is one they will remember for a long time.
"It’s also important to point out that these very drivers support the event on an unpaid basis and it is testament to their charitable natures that we are celebrating a 68th year of the annual trip. Long may it continue."
source:
http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/magazine/22 ... ol-pupils/
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